Taskin suspension grave injustice: BCB

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan is unable to accept the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to suspend pacer Taskin Ahmed from bowling in international matches. He thinks the suspension is sheer injustice to Bangladesh cricket.

Taskin and spinner Arafat Sunny were reported for suspect actions after the World Twenty20 qualifying match against the Netherlands. Both of them underwent a bowling assessment in Chennai, following which they were suspended for illegal actions, reports bdnews24.com.

The decision has been greeted in Bangladesh with questions and protests against the ICC methods. Teammates and fans were particularly bitter about the suspension of Taskin who was spearheading the team's pace attack in recent matches.

The BCB then lodged an appeal for a review of the suspension but a judicial commissioner upheld the decision on Wednesday following a hearing.

"What happened with Taskin is a first in cricket history. I always knew the ICC rule was that a bowler is suspended if he bowls illegal deliveries in a match. But now it seems he can also be suspended if he does not bowl illegally in a match," said the BCB chief.

"The match referee said all his deliveries (in the Netherlands match) were suspicious. But after going to the laboratory, they saw none of them was illegal. So it teaches us a new lesson, even if a bowler does not bowl a single illegal delivery in a match, he can still be suspended in international cricket."

Hassan bemoaned losing the team's fastest bowler.

"If there is talk of a jolt for Bangladesh cricket, this is it. Bangladesh cricket has finished. You see Taskin is our main bowler. The crucial things is he is our fastest bowler. He bowls faster than 140 kmph," he said.

"He has bowled brilliantly in the last few series'. His action was never questioned before, but it happened now. I feel it has been a severe injustice. But I still think Bangladesh were remarkable against Australia and India."

Hassan said the ICC can prove that it was right to ban Taskin and Sunny by suspending two of the best bowlers of any team playing in the tournament without them having bowled any illegal deliveries in a match. But the board chief believes Taskin will soon return to action after passing next assessment.

"I am confident he will pass (the test). Even if we send him tomorrow (to take the test), he will pass it. But it is unfortunate he could not play the World T20," said Hassan.