angladesh skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza on Sunday pleaded for justice from the International Cricket Council as they are convinced about pace bowler Taskin Ahmed’s bowling action.
The pre-match press conference at the Chinnaswamy Stadium ahead of their today’s ICC World Twenty20 match against Australia turned into an emotional affair as Mashrafee failed to control his emotions on more than several occasions.
His voice modulation changed in drastic proportions during his near half-an-hour press briefing that reflected how badly Bangladesh were hurt by losing the duo.
ICC on Saturday announced that independent assessments have found the bowling actions of Arafat Sunny and Taskin Ahmed to be illegal that barred the two bowlers from participating in international cricket on immediate basis.
‘We want proper justice for Taskin,’ Mashrafee told reporters at the press briefing.
‘We believe that Taskin has a legal bowling action.
‘We have laid our observations to the BCB [Bangladesh Cricket Board] and we hope that they would discuss regarding the matter with ICC.
‘As we know that ICC has always encouraged young cricketers,’ he said.
Sunny and Taskin were reported with suspect bowling actions during their side’s opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 against the Netherlands in Dharamshala on March 9.
The duo underwent bio-metric tests respectively on March 12 and March 14 and received the suspension on March 20.
Mashrafee said that though they can accept the verdict against Sunny they are not sure why Taskin had to go through all these things as he was clean in the match against Netherlands.
‘Technically speaking, he [Taskin] did not bowl any illegal deliveries during the match that he was suspected,’ said Mashrafee.
‘As he was not illegal in the match, how can they suspend him?
‘I agree that he can have some problems when he did the test and there are lots of players who are bowling without bouncers.
‘He does not have any problem with full length deliveries.
‘But the basic question is why we will stop him despite finding no problems with him in the match where he was questioned,’ said Mashrafee.
Mashrafee added they are aware that they have to take on the oppositions with their available resources though it is hard for them to bear the brunt.
‘We know we have to play and we will do that with all our motivations,’ said Mashrafee.
‘But it is hard to forget and focus after losing two of our cricketers.’
Both Sunny and Taskin have been regarded as the major weapons in the Tigers bowling repertoire during their campaign in the ICC WorldTwenty20 tournament in India.
Both Saqlain Sajib and Shuvagata Hom joined the team in the nets at the national cricket academy premises adjacent to the Chinnaswamy stadium on Sunday.
Mashrafee did not take part in the optional practice and joined the team with the duo after an hour he introduced them with his team-mates as well as the coaching staff.
Though Shuvagata is making a return, Saqlain got the nod for the first time with the national set-up.
Throughout the training session, Mashrafee looked dejected and failed to hold to the composure that he usually carries and the Tigers skipper eventually broke down after completing the press conference at the door way to the Chinnaswamy.
-With New Age input
