BULAWAYO: Zimbabwe spinner Prosper Utseya has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action and must undergo tests within 21 days, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Friday.

Utseya was reported by match officials during Zimbabwe’s third One-day International against South Africa in Bulawayo on Thursday, the ICC said in a statement.

He is the fourth offspin bowler in the last two months to be scrutinized over his action.

Pakistan’s frontline off-spinner Saeed Ajmal will also undergo tests after being reported to the ICC this month during a test series against Sri Lanka.

Sril Lanka off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson were both banned from bowling last month after tests concluded they had illegal actions.

Bowlers are not allowed to bend their arms past a certain point in cricket to ensure they aren’t throwing.

The ICC said concerns were raised over offspinner Utseya’s faster delivery in Zimbabwe’s loss to South Africa in the final ODI. The match officials’ report has been handed to Zimbabwe team manager.

Utseya is allowed to continue bowling in internationals pending the results of the official tests.

Utseya, 29, is Zimbabwe’s second highest all-time wicket-taker in ODIs with 123 wickets in 156 games. He is an experienced ODI player and was likely to appear in the upcoming triangular series against Australia and South Africa starting next week in Zimbabwe.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2014