Big blow for Bangladesh as Taskin, Sunny reported for suspect actions

E-Paper | July 21, 2026

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh bowlers Arafat Sunny and Taskin Ahmed have been reported for suspect bowling actions during their side's opening match in the World Twenty20, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Thursday.

Off-spinner Sunny, 29, and paceman Ahmed, 20, turned out for Bangladesh in a qualifying match against the Netherlands in Dharamsala on Wednesday.

Bangladesh won the match by eight runs.

The bowlers' action would now be scrutinised further by the ICC under its process relating to suspected illegal bowling action.

“The ICC is working with the Bangladesh cricket team management to confirm times for the independent testing of both bowlers at the ICC-accredited testing centre in Chennai,” the game's world governing body said in a statement.

Both players will be allowed to continue playing until the results of the tests are declared.

The ICC launched a crackdown against suspect actions in 2014, which resulted in several leading bowlers being reported.

Other bowlers who have been up hauled up include Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez, Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi, New Zealand's Kane Williamson, Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake and Tharindu Kaushal.

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Jonty Rhodes

Mar 10, 2016 07:59pm

Taskin's name is really surprising. I can understand Sunny Arafat since he has little bit of side arm action but I think Taskin's action is pretty clean. Now, I hope that people here don't come up with conspiracy theories blaming India and BCCI for this. India has just beaten Bangladesh twice on their home ground and both players were part of the squad.

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Divergence

Mar 10, 2016 08:10pm

I don't understand why bowlers' bowling action becomes suspicious midway their careers, is it okay in the beginning? There should be some test to check all bowlers' actions at the start of their career.

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Muzammil

Mar 10, 2016 08:10pm

ICC always caught those bowlers when they are doing good at their peak. whatever, Just destroying bowling and demoralizing kids who want to become bowlers.....

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Mar 10, 2016 08:22pm

no not taskin!

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point of view

Mar 10, 2016 08:33pm

Now people start blaming BCCI/India for conspiracies….

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zayson

Mar 10, 2016 08:35pm

BCCI's policy. if u can't play just ban them

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Jagat USA

Mar 10, 2016 08:43pm

@zayson then in that case they would have banned Mitch Johnson, Dale Steyn and lot of others...Taskin????? Think before you talk

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syed

Mar 10, 2016 08:47pm

Just before World Cup? Ashwin and Harbajan Singh if reported, the umpires shall be banned,

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Sarwar, USA.

Mar 10, 2016 09:03pm

All should be cleared for India to win.

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AXH

Mar 10, 2016 09:05pm

These bowlers have been bowling for the past 12 months with the same action. Why report them now when a big event is about to start? Why is it the bowlers are identified for suspected actions mostly just before these big events? Now, they will be bowling under pressure in the tournament and with the fear that they might be called for illegal action. This is plain nonsense.

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Ammar

Mar 10, 2016 09:08pm

Finally. I have been waiting for Taskin to be reported since the world cup early last year. Looks very suspicious.

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master

Mar 10, 2016 09:09pm

why they are not checking AUS/ENG/IND `S bowlers. Harbhajan singh, Ashwin, Bhumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar all actions Are on ?????

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global citizen

Mar 10, 2016 09:10pm

this is ridiculous! why doesn't any umpire report any indian bowler just before a big tournament? I wonder why ;) there is a strong possibility that Ashwin and Harbajan Singh will be caught if an independent assessment of their actions is done.

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master

Mar 10, 2016 09:10pm

Only big three should play cricket with each others.

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Jhulelal

Mar 10, 2016 09:18pm

@Zayson, knew there would definitely be a few comments like yours: "if u can't play just ban them"Really? For your kind information, India played them twice in the Asia cup recently, which was held in Bangladesh, and beat them comprehensively both times.

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Raj

Mar 10, 2016 09:23pm

Why there is no bowler reported from big 3? India, England & Australia. Are they all clean or umpires are scared of reporting them. In my opinion all bowlers should pass this test. It should be all or non.

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Harry

Mar 10, 2016 09:25pm

Dear Pak fan. In 2012 BCCI banned 70 domestic bowlers and send them to correction centre before they can be allowed even in domestic. Does pak do this?

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Lighter

Mar 10, 2016 10:05pm

Shameless policy from IcC. what you mean?

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sree

Mar 10, 2016 11:25pm

in 2014 Bangladesh has sent 117 bowlers to bowlers concentration camp before even they enter into under 19 stage..couple of bowlers were missing from that list at that time. 1. Taskin 2. Sunny

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Waseem Sarwar

Mar 10, 2016 11:29pm

Sunny does bowl with bend in his elbow so I wonder why it took that long but Taskin seems fine to naked eye. Timing is pretty bad for Bangladesh

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Prasanna

Mar 10, 2016 11:29pm

Muhammad Amir action also needs examination,ICC is an independent body and we should support ICC

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Towfique

Mar 10, 2016 11:45pm

ICC is joke now. I have never heard ICC did same thing with Big 3. ICC doesn't look fair to BD at this. They didn't even count BD can be in Asia cup final and put their practice match with HKG. Pak suffered a lot with this so kind bowling action now they started with BD. who is behind of this?

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asad

Mar 10, 2016 11:52pm

this is not a good way to handle this situation.when players are declare suspected in world cup so its become difficult for the board to hire substitute bowler if action approved illegal.

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Md Ashraf U Arif

Mar 10, 2016 11:55pm

Bhumra's bowling action is more doubtful than Taskin & Sunny. But, ICC won't say anything

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pbbiet

Mar 11, 2016 12:10am

The reason why big three players are not much is that they got mechanism which filter them at domestic cricket, still if any escape that they are reported. Other teams dont have this mechanism at home which filter them out early, as a result they get caught in later stage of career. But if you check facts you will be deprived of conspiracy gossip against hidden scared India which ranks no. 1, beat every team easily.

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Shiraz

Mar 11, 2016 12:46am

no Indian blowers yet, surprise

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Kam

Mar 11, 2016 01:24am

Have they seen Al-Amin's action? How they think he isn't straightening his arm is beyond me.

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Fawad

Mar 11, 2016 02:59am

Even a kid can see that their actions arent clean. The big question is why they havent been reported before.

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Raj Patel

Mar 11, 2016 03:25am

Why big three bowlers are not in the list because they are filtered at lower level. Such Bowlers are side lined at early stage which is absent n other counties.

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Mar 11, 2016 06:12am

Taskin's action is just fine. ICC is will never go after the Australian or English bowlers. This kid is unjustly targeted. If one watches Ashwin's some deliveries he bowls, he bowls with a corky action specially the carum ball but I have never any one or ICC take a note of that

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rejoice

Mar 11, 2016 09:08am

Another tactic to destroy the future of the bowlers. After Saeed Ajmal's, two new preys.

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Don't ask

Mar 11, 2016 10:07am

The ICC seems to enjoy messing with WC preparations of the teams. Seriously, now! These guys have been playing for over a year. Let's not report it earlier on. What's the fun in that?! Now's a great time to report their actions! Once the world t20 is so close.

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Don't ask

Mar 11, 2016 10:13am

@master To be fair, I think it would only be Bhajji's action that is slightly suspect. Ashwin's is pretty clean as is Kumar's. From a Pakistani by the way.

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Mahfuz

Mar 11, 2016 10:19am

Taskin! India and ICC are so biased. They are once again out to destroy a very promising and talented bowler. If Taskin is a chucker than all the former and present Indian, Australian and English bowlers are chuckers. Indians are angels who dont chuck, dont do match fixing but Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and Srilankans do.. They are not from south Asia but from different planet. I hope this news becomes false otherwise my hatred for them will be permanent and severe.

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Samrat

Mar 11, 2016 10:21am

It was PAK who lost to BD badly that too with their main pacer Mustafiz missing out. At present ICC president is Zaheer Abbas, so we all know who wants this ban.

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Faisal

Mar 11, 2016 10:37am

Why is this always an issue right before major tournaments? This isn't fair to BD as it has been unfair for Pakistani on many occasions.

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ICC and BCCI

Mar 11, 2016 12:31pm

To all those who are asking about the timing of action. Only after official complaint by NETHERLANDS against both players lead to videos inquiry by ICC and then they were declared suspect. Though, they can still bowl but now it will be hard for them to carry on if they fail to improve. Now they are under observation. Match official will keep their eye on them.

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Dr eskander

Mar 11, 2016 12:31pm

Is there any INDIAN, AUSTRALIAN, ENGLISH player ever been gone scrutiny ? all of them are Priest and Prophet? what about Ashwin and other indian spinners ? Then why the people will not smell of suspicion on ICC & BCCI?

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Sarwar

Mar 11, 2016 12:37pm

I am sick and tired of seeing this nonsense again. It seems they have created new tactics to undermines BD team spirit just like the world cup.

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Pathetic

Mar 11, 2016 12:53pm

The timings are most intriguing! No bowler from infamous clique is ever found suspect.

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Sarwar

Mar 11, 2016 01:11pm

I think it has to do with Taskin's Stats. Playing in his second ICC WT20. Took 11 wickets in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012 – the top wicket-taker for Bangladesh.His figures of 5-28 on his ODI debut against India are the best by a Bangladesh bowler on his first ODI appearance. Played all six matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, topping Bangladesh’s wicket-takers with nine wickets. His best figures in the competition were 3-43 against Scotland, and he also took three wickets against India in the quarter-final.

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byju

Mar 11, 2016 02:13pm

@Dr eskander when will people like you ever get out of this mentality of 'the whole world against us'? ashwin's action was never ever questioned by any umpire any where since his deubut. his action cannot be questioned just because some pakistanis feel his action is suspect. as for harbhjan, he was dropped and had to go for correcting his action. in australia, england and in india (of late), bowlers with suspect action are weeded out at the domestic level itself,

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Anuj

Mar 11, 2016 03:30pm

@Sarwar all the matches that you mentioned were the ones in which BD lost. For any new comer pacer, playing first match against IND is a dream debut as IND has tendency to present a 5fer to a new pacer in the block. Wahab Riaz in 2011 WC SF, Sohail Khan in 2015 WC, Taskin in 2014 all played against IND first time and ended up on the losing side. By your logic Wahab and Sohail should have been reported by now, have they been?

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Anuj

Mar 11, 2016 03:32pm

@Dr eskander Ashwin bowls in half sleeves, has confessed that he can't bowl doosra without bending arm.

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Revenge

Mar 11, 2016 03:47pm

The irony is that Pak fans think every single shot is called by BCCI, ICC is a mere puppet. We have seen Kohli being fined 30% compared to Hazlewood who got away with just 15. Indian doesn't use DRS and pays price for it cause the team which is always at the receiving end of most howlers is India. Yet they think BCCI=ICC and still want India to fulfill its commitment of playing series with Pakistan. Take one stand and be firm on it.

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ICC and BCCI

Mar 11, 2016 03:49pm

@Dr eskander No. Not by ICC but you don't know about domestic circle. Harbhajan singh and Pragyan Ojha, I hope you know them, were banned by BCCI for suspect action and were forced to go through process. There were many chuckers at domestic level prior to 2nd edition of IPL. After reviewing 1st season of IPL, BCCI got embarrassed and decided to go hard on chuckers and banned a record 315 bowler in india and around 135 among them were playing for different states. So, BCCI crackdown at very early level so they can go for action correction at early age which is easy and fruitful as well. BCCI has very harsh policy in comparison to ICC on action crackdown. That's the reason you will not find any Indian player in that list of ICC. Read for Info http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/790751.html

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ski

Mar 11, 2016 03:55pm

does Bumrah even bent his elbow ? think before commenting.

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Jagat USA

Mar 11, 2016 05:27pm

@Shiraz ...because BCCI bowling body does the checking and they catch before ICC does.

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Yet another Indian Sri1

Mar 13, 2016 12:45am

@zayson 'BCCI's policy. if u can't play just ban them' Works for cricketers till now as ICC is virtually BCCI. A decade later it would work for terrorists too as the world would virtually be India (if everyone bends over backwards today to the USA, they will learn to do that to India too.). Yes, I know it's all unfair, but that's how the game will be played in future.

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