PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- Officials monitoring the remodeled action of West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine say he is now bowling within limits stipulated by ICC regulations.
Local match referee Michael Ragoonath and cricket administrator Jeffrey Guillen both said they saw nothing to be concerned about while watching Narine’s new action in local matches over the weekend.
Ragoonath who was referee for two matches involving Narine said he received no negative reports from any of the umpires who officiated.
“I stood as match referee for both games and the only way I can act is if a bowler is reported by the onfield umpires,” Ragoonath told the Guardian.
“Sunil played in both games and the umpires did not report anything to me. What I did was to video tape his bowling to have a look at it and when we sat down and viewed the footage, we found him to be well within the limits allowed for bending of the arm.”
Narine had not bowled competitively since being forced out of the Bangladesh Premier League last November and was reported during West Indies’ series against Sri Lanka.
Subsequent tests showed that Narine’s action was exceeding the 15 degree level of tolerance permitted under ICC regulations.
He has since undergone rehabilitation on his action and is scheduled to be tested at the Loughborough University in England next month.
“On the weekend he looked good and is bowling quite well,” said Manager of Queen’s Park Cricket Club Guillen after Narine captured two for 37 in a 10-over spell to help his club Queen’s Park beat Clarke Road by 32 runs in the opening round of the 50-overs championship.
“The issue I think would not be passing the test but getting ready for the World T20, which is major. We are confident that he would be ready but at the moment his ambition is to get past the test, which he should take in about two or three weeks’ time.”
Narine has been included in a West Indies 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup pending the outcome of the Loughborough test.
The West Indies start their campaign on March 16, when they face England in Mumbai.
