LAHORE: Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain has been banned from bowling in international cricket and withdrawn from the Pakistan Super League after biomechanical testing confirmed his action was illegal, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Friday.

Umpires in Australia first reported Hasnain for a suspect action last month when he represented Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, but his bowling action was tested in Lahore as the 21-year-old was due to fly back home in time to compete in the PSL.

Biomechanical testing in Lahore confirmed Hasnain breached the 15-degree limit for elbow extension on his“good length delivery, full length delivery, slow bouncer and bouncer”, the PCB said in a statement.

Under the International Cricket Council rules, an illegal bowling action is one in which the bowler’s elbow extension exceeds 15 degrees.

Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henr­iques accused Hasnain of “chucking” during a Big Bash match last month, telling him“nice throw, mate” at one stage.

The PCB said Cricket Australia had verified the report.

Keeping his future and Pakistan’s interest at the forefront, the PCB ... has decided he will not be allowed to continue to participate in the Pakistan Super League,” it said.

“As per the illegal bowling action regulations, until Mohammad Hasnain clears his reassessment, he will remain suspended from bowling in international cricket.”

Hasnain has represented Pakistan in eight One-day Internationals and 18 Twenty20 Internationals and has taken 29 wickets, claiming a hat-trick in a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in 2019.

Hasnain took three wickets in three games for his franchise Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing PSL, but was dropped for Thursday’s game against Islamabad United which they lost by 43 runs.

The PCB described the bowler as an“asset” citing his ability to bowl consistently at 145 kmph and was optimistic of his return to the game after remodelling his action.

The PCB has discussed the report with its own bowling experts and is confident that the problem can be resolved.

“He will use this time to work with the PCB-appointed bowling consultant to modify his bowling action so that he can apply for a reassessment and become eligible to return to international cricket as quickly as practically possible.”

Cricket Australia said its expert was satisfied with the results of Hasnain’s testing in Lahore.

“Mohammad Hasnain replicated his bowling action in the controlled environment during testing and that the results are accurate,” said Peter Roach, Cricket Australia’s head of cricket operations and scheduling.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2022