Bangladesh, Zimbabwe spinners banned for illegal actions

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

The International Cricket Council has slapped bans on Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi and Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya for illegal bowling actions.

The off-spinners were examined in Cardiff after being reported during international matches in August, and it was found all their deliveries breached the tolerance limit of 15 degrees for straightening of the elbow joint.

“Both players can apply for a re-assessment after modifying their bowling actions,” the ICC said in a statement.

Gazi, who has played 10 Tests and 20 one-day internationals, was reported after the second ODI against West Indies in St. George's in August, while Utseya, a veteran of 160 ODIs, was reported after the third ODI against South Africa in Bulawayo the same month, the ICC added.

They are the latest casualties of a crackdown which has seen a clutch of bowlers reported and subsequently banned for their bowling actions.

Offspinners Sachithra Senanayake (Sri Lanka), Kane Williamson (New Zealand) and Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) have all recently been banned from bowling until they can modify their actions.

Bangladesh paceman Al-Amin Hossain was also reported last month and ordered to undergo biomechanical tests.

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Kranti

Oct 09, 2014 02:08pm

These are all the Big 3 tactics against growing nations like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh because they are afraid of these talented players. Already they removed Ajmal, Hafeez who are the leading bowlers in world cricket. So I request Pakistan to play with these countries so that no body will blame them

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Rogers Evans

Oct 09, 2014 02:14pm

Are spinners of big three perfect ? No umpire reports against them, because they may lose jobs. I bet, this is a plot against other cricketing nations to keep them away from winning WC. When will the world realze this conspiracy ? Shame on big three.

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Hussam

Oct 09, 2014 03:54pm

Why is Ashwin still bowling with his extraordinary long sleeves...

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Dr Zia

Oct 09, 2014 04:07pm

So as a good round of worldcup preparation by the BIG 3, all the other countries have been handed Red cards so far. Not a bad ploy if you want to share the riches of the big prize money on offer.If they can come up with the BIG 3 plan behind the table, so they can with a plan to make sure one of the big 3 wins to ensure their survival and fiefdom. Pakistan, Westindies, Srilanka, bangladesh and newzealand have all been dented so far. As long as KKR needed to beat the other non-Indian teams in the group Sunil was a perfectly legal bowling best spinner to ever rein the earth. But once all the other teams are out, we must now safely dispose of him before he comes and haunts us in the carrom colored jersey-Indian tour going on currently. Call it a conspiracy if you may! Its crystal clear for all to see.

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Oct 09, 2014 04:37pm

Lol..look at Pakistanis supporting players with illegal actions...why do you have to always support illegal things. Is it fair on any batsmen who will face a bowler with illegal action during world cups ? The big 3 bowlers are not banned because there aren't any with wrong action we stop them at county level or correct them using our infra...while ur infrastructure gathers dust...don't blame the world for ur mistakes look where u are today it's because u never introspect and only blame.

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INDIA WAALE

Oct 09, 2014 06:28pm

@Hussam "ashwin with long sleeves".........have you ever seen ashwin playing? AND for all other who are criticising icc ...Two currupts become friends very easily.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 09, 2014 07:50pm

This is just a cover-up in order to justify the banning of Saeed Ajmal by the ICC and its so-called cronies who are bent upon calling themselves as the "Big three." Nevertheless, they don't have the manly guts and the grit to come forward and face the brunt of the neutral, independent, fair and free world of cricket and cricketers.

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Himanshu

Oct 09, 2014 10:25pm

@salaria ahmed You Sir, are a genius. I wonder what are doing wasting your life commenting on electronic news media, you should be running the board, ICC, Army or even Pakistan.

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Manu

Oct 10, 2014 12:57am

Saeed Ajmal had been reported by a Pakistani umpire during a domestic tournament. In another country (big three) he would have been encouraged to adopt a correct technique and all would have been right. However, in pakistan he is taken in the team. He uses long sleeves to try and veil his illegitimate deliveries, but still gets caught. What is funny is the way all the pakistanis support him, even when Ajmal himself agrees that his deliveries are wrong! Guys, the whole world is not conspiring against Pakistan.

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Someone

Oct 10, 2014 10:11am

It does not matter who they ban in these teams or even if the ban Ajmal or Hafeez. What really matters is that Pakistan is unable to come up with good talent to replace them. Back in the old days we had Wassem, Shoaib, Waqar and Aqib. We also had spinners like Saqlain and Mushtaq. I wonder what happened! Whay are we not able to come up with good fast bowlers like we used to? All the fingers point to corruption in PCB. Dont blame ICC guys!

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Calcutta Man

Oct 10, 2014 10:46am

@Himanshu LOL...vis-a-vis this Salaria fellow, my sentiments exactly

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Abdullah

Oct 10, 2014 11:25am

ICC has to justify why not bowlers from any of the Big 3 not yet even reported. Is this because you want to degrade some countries and give benefit to others? This doesn't happen in an other sport, its a clear racism.

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Ad Zad

Oct 10, 2014 08:10pm

@Hussam Long Sleeves? Is that your definition of suspect action?

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Ad Zad

Oct 10, 2014 08:11pm

@Abdullah Give me name of 1 player in Big 3 teams who have a suspect action. If that was the case it would have surely been reported by now, and if it happens in future it will be reported. Why has Pak board kept quiet on no Big 3 cricketer being reported? Because there is none

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