The BCB has made an appeal to the ICC to reconsider Taskin Ahmed’s suspension from bowling in international cricket.
The communication was made personally by the BCB president Nazmul Hassan, who said that he spoke to the ICC chairman Shashank Manohar and chief executive Dave Richardson.
Speaking at his residence in Dhaka, Hassan said the BCB was trying to circumvent the normal procedure of appealing in a bid to quickly overturn the decision made on Taskin. The ICC had said on Saturday that “not all of Taskin’s deliveries were legal”. While Hassan did not reveal what the BCB’s main argument was, he said they were not convinced with the ICC’s independent assessment report on Taskin’s bowling action.
“The promptness with which we have taken the action is quite different to the way we responded to the others,” Hassan said. “I read the [ICC’s independent assessment] report today morning and instantly called the ICC CEO Dave Richardson and chairman Shashank Manohar, who said they will respond to us after talking to their legal team.
“We are trying to do something outside the normal procedure where the player requests a reassessment, which we feel is a complex process. I don’t think we can do anything more that what we have done. I believe that the ICC will observe our points and give a logical reply.
“We are not convinced about Taskin as of now. We don’t have any reason to be satisfied with the report. And that’s disappointing, so we have appealed to the ICC. We have a few grounds and we have said these things according to logic. Only the ICC can withdraw the ICC’s decision, which is why I am talking to the ICC directly. It won’t be right to disclose what we presented as our logic. I can tell you that we have done everything possible.”
Hassan also ruled out the possibility of taking the legal route against the ICC, which he feels will be too lengthy and would not give Bangladesh what they are looking for – a quick return for Taskin.
“If we take the legal way, then we can forget Taskin playing in the World T20. I don’t think it will be solved any time in the future. It would be a lengthy procedure but as of now I am trying to avoid that way, and trying to see if something can be done immediately through a shortcut. It’s very difficult, but I have not left hope as yet. I feel that there is a slight possibility for Taskin to join us as soon as possible.
“We have never heard or seen a decision getting immediately changed by the ICC but regarding Taskin even if that happens, I won’t be amazed. I am hopeful.”
Though the ICC has never lifted a suspension on a bowler at such a short notice, they did lift a ban on Shoaib Akhtar within 11 days in 2000. Akhtar was banned on December 30, 1999, but 10 days later, he played for Pakistan in an ODI against Australia in Brisbane, arriving a few hours after the match had started, having been in Perth when the ICC had taken the decision.
Source: Ittefaq
