Andre Russell bowls during a practice session in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, West Indies. Associated Press / Andres Leighton
By Azad Ali
Trinidad and Tobago mystery offspinner
Sunil Narine, who has been
reported for a suspect bowling action
recently has been cleared and taken off
the Indian Premier League (IPL) warning
list.
At the end of the Kolkata Knight Riders’
thrilling two-run win over the Kings
XI Punjab in their IPL 2020 match in
Abu Dhabi recently, Narine was reported
by the two on-field umpires and for
a suspect bowling action, according to a
statement from the IPL.
Narine played a key role in the game,
bowling the 18th and 20th overs in the
Kings XI chase, taking two wickets for
28 runs.
He was placed on a “warning list” but
would be permitted to bowl unless there
was a report against him.
IPL said in a statement on Sunday
that the 32-year-old Trinidadian national
had been cleared by the competition’s
Caribbean L 30 ife, October 23-29, 2020
Suspect Bowling Action Committee.
Narine has faced problems with the
authorities for his bowling action in
the past, most notably in November
2015, when he was reported after West
Indies’ third ODI against Sri Lanka in
Pallekele.
That was the first time he had come
under the microscope in an international
game, though he had been
reported twice during the now defunct
Champions League T20 in 2014 and a
result he was forced to miss the Knight
Riders’ final encounter against Chennai
Super Kings.
Narine’s action was also reported
again during the 2018 edition of the
Pakistan Super League, but he was
cleared soon after.
Narine has been part of Knight Riders’
team since joining in 2012, when
his 24 wickets went a long way in helping
the team win the IPL, for the first
time.
Barbados
Continued from Page 29
eight rounds following the outbreak
of the COVID-19 pandemic in
the region and Pride subsequently
declared winners after topping the
standings with 134.8 points.
Despite not holding an unassailable
lead, CWI directors unanimously
agreed to award the title to Pride.
Capture of the title was the 23rd
for Barbados in the modern era of
the championship, dating back to
1966 and came after they won six
of their eight matches in the recent
tournament. Significantly, the championship
win broke Guyana Jaguars’
stranglehold of five consecutive titles
since the start of the professional
tournament.
the pandemic.
The World Twenty 20 finals,
scheduled for October this year, have
already been canceled.
However, Tom Harrison, chief
executive officer of the England and
Wales Cricket Board, said he has
been notified by the ICC that the
WTC final is “proceeding as scheduled.”
The nine Test countries playing
in the competition were scheduled
to play six series home and away
over a two-year period starting in
2019. The top teams in the standings
would then meet in the final in June
2021. These are currently India and
Australia.
While England, India and Pakistan
have played four series each, four
countries, Sri Lanka, West Indies,
South Africa and Bangladesh — have
only played two — Australia and
New Zealand have played three series
each.
Narine, meanwhile, who was recently
reported for a suspect bowling action
during the Indian Premier League
(IPL), was overlooked for the tour
along with Gayle, who made his first
appearance in a competitive game
in 10 months in the IPL last week.
Narine has since been cleared to bowl
again.
The absence of the five top players
will rob the West Indies of valuable
experience but has paved the way
for the maiden selection of attacking
left-handed all-rounder Kyle Mayers
and the return of veteran batsman
Andre Fletcher.
Seven players, including captain
Kieron Pollard are currently campaigning
in the IPL and will join the
remainder of the West Indies touring
party in New Zealand after completing
their franchise commitments.
Continued from Page 29
England cricket team national selector
Ed Smith, right, talks to Tom
Harrison, CEO of the England and
Wales Cricket Board, at the Sir
Vivian Richards Stadium in North
Sound, Antigua and Barbuda,
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. Associated
Press / Ricardo Mazalan, File
Continued from Page 29
TOP PLAYERS MISSING IN ACTION
World Test
Championship!
Sunil Narine bowling action cleared
West Indies’ Sunil Narine. Associated
Press / Andres Leighton, File