HARARE, Oct 6: Controversy surrounding the bowling action of England seamer James Kirtley and the match referee who is said to have expressed doubts about its legality under the laws of cricket appeared to be fizzling out here Saturday.

Referee Nashaud Ali is said to have sparked the controversy by expressing his concerns about Kirtley’s action to a television commentator.

Naushad is believed to have commented he would be studying a videotape of Kirtley’s action before taking any action.

But the chief executive of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, David Ellman-Brown, told AFP: “The matter is not an issue. Not an issue, because there has been no official report made to me, nor to the England management, nor to the International Cricket Conference. It matters not at all what is said on TV or in the press.

“If I had received a formal communication I would have been obiged to set certain procedures into effect, including issuing a statement within 24 hours.

“Up to this point no report has been made.”

The England Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb said in a television interview: “This whole matter seems to have been badly handled.”

No comment was available from either Ali or the England manager Duncan Fletcher.

Kirtley’s action has been called into question before but he was cleared of any illegal action.

The last “throwing” allegation made in Zimbabwe concerned left-arm spinner Grant Flower two years ago. He was “called” by umpire Darrell Hair but cleared by the ZCU and the ICC.—AFP