Pragyan Ojha banned due to suspect action, heads to Chennai
Left arm spinners bowling action found illegal as his elbow bent beyond permissible 15 degrees
New Delhi: Spinner Pragyan Ojha has been banned from bowling in competitive cricket after his bowling action was found to be illegal. Ojha’s action was analysed by the International Cricket Council authorised testing centre in Chennai and it was found that his elbow was bent beyond the permissible 15 degrees, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo. Ojha was tested after requests by his state cricket board, the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Ojha has played 24 Tests and 18 ODIs for India but his last international appearance was way back in November, 2013.
It is reported that Ojha’s action was under scrutiny for more than a year now. The Board of Control for Cricket in India had appointed a three-member committee comprising of Javagal Srinath, S. Venkatraghavan and umpire A.V. Jayaprakash to weed out those having an illegal action in domestic cricket.
The Hyderabad Cricket Association received a letter from BCCI citing Ojha’s ban and the spinner was subsequently left out of the squad who are set to play against Services in the Ranji Trophy.
Incidentally, Ojha was also left out by his IPL franchise, Mumbai Indians, earlier this year. Ojha will now have to undergo rehabilitation in Chennai and cannot bowl in any competitive cricket until his action has been cleared.