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| July 31, 2003 | Thursday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1424 |
Whatmore defends Sanwar Hossain
CAIRNS (Australia), July 30: Sanwar Hossain, whose bowling action is suspect and under official scrutiny, is likely to play in the one-day cricket series against Australia, Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore said here on Wednesday.
Hossain, reported by the umpires after the second Test against Australia here, can play for six weeks while his action is reviewed by the International Cricket Council.
But if on-field umpires believe he is chucking, he can be no-balled.
Whatmore indicated the all-rounder would continue to play in the Bangladeshi team.
“Under the processes laid down he’s able to play,” Whatmore said on Wednesday.
“He’s a batsman as well (as a bowler) and he’s a good fielder. Whether he bowls or not is up to the captain on the field.”
Hossain, an off-spinner, appears to have one delivery which looks suspect — when he flicks the ball with a back-handed motion.
Whatmore said he didn’t yet know if it was that ball in particular or his action in general which was suspect.
“We don’t know whether it’s that ball ... we don’t know what the umpires have written down.
“A media release — that’s all I’ve seen. I haven’t had anything official from the ICC. I should be getting the umpires’ report but the process slows up because it goes to London and London sends it back to the (Bangladesh) cricket board and the cricket board sends it back to us.
“So I think we have to be a little bit patient.”
Whatmore said the backhander delivery was similar to that bowled by a number of international stars, including Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan and Pakistanis Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Malik.
“He’s got a delivery that’s a very useful one, the same as Saqlain, the same as Shoaib Malik, Muralitharan ...”
Whatmore said it would appear unfair if Hossain was pulled up on that delivery while others were left alone.
He said Hossain was feeling some pressure over the incident.
“I spoke to him yesterday and he feels he’s bowling legitimately. He must feel some pressure — it’s only natural.”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh have brought in two new players into the squad, batsman Tushar Imran and fast bowler Hasibul Hossain.—AFP
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