Sri Lanka spinner Senanayake banned over bowling action

Sri-Lanka’s Off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake has been banned from international cricket, reported by umpires Ian Gould and Marais Erasmus during a match against England at Lord’s , where his bowling action proved illegal, it was announced on Saturday.

Senanayake, who has played one test against Pakistan, 39 ODIs took 40 wickets and took 18 wickets in 17 Twenty20 matches for Sri Lanka, was allowed to continue playing while under investigation and appeared in 3 ODI series against South Africa at home.

The four deliveries that he bowled in the fourth ODI at Lord’s were deemed to be in breach of the 15-degree elbow extension permitted under ICC rules and guidelines, and he has been suspended from bowling internationally. It is the second time that he has been forced to undergo biomechanical testing, having previously been reported on a Sri Lanka A tour of England two years ago.

“The Standard ICC Illegal Action Testing Protocol was used to assess the degree of elbow extension from the point of upper arm horizontal to ball release within the bowling action, ”Sri Lanka cricket (SLC) said.

“The 15-degree elbow extension threshold was exceeded in the four deliveries considered to be suspect in the 4th ODI played at Lords. The report concludes that Sachithra Senanayake bowled with an illegal bowling action and consequently he is banned from bowling in international cricket, effective immediately.”