Young Pakistani fast bowler Muhammad Hasnain has been suspended from all forms of cricket after his bowling action was found to be illegal, also ending his participation in the ongoing Pakistan Super League 2021.

The International Cricket Council’s accredited testing centre in Lahore and an independent expert's view from Cricket Australia have found Pakistan’s speedster Mohammad Hasnain bowling action ‘illegal’, leading to his suspension.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board has issued the following statement on Mohammad Hasnain after the test conducted on his bowling action at the ICC’s accredited testing centre in Lahore on 21 January and the report reviewed and verified by the CA’s independent expert found his bowling action to be illegal,” read a statement issued by the PCB on Friday.

Hasnain had gone for a test on his bowling action at the ICC’s accredited testing centre in Lahore after it was reported by umpires in Australia's Big Bash League in mid-January. The development took place after the Hyderabad-born cricketer, who played for Sydney Thunder in the T20 league, was accused of chucking by Moises Henriques during a match against Sydney Sixers.

According to ICC, the 22-year-old was due to be tested at the ICC’s approved facility in Brisbane, though after his departure from Australia in mid-January, it was agreed he would conduct his test at the PCB’s approved facility, with results provided to Cricket Australia for independent review and verification.

The detailed report received from the CA on Hasnain’s assessment test, stated: “his elbow extension for his good length delivery, full-length delivery, slow bouncer and bouncer exceeded the 15-degree limits.”

The PCB has discussed the report with its bowling experts and was confident that the problem could be resolved, it read, adding that the board would appoint a bowling consultant who would work with Hasnain so that he could rectify his bowling action and be ready for a reassessment.

“Mohammad Hasnain is an asset for Pakistan and one of the very few bowlers to consistently click 145kmp. As such, and keeping his future and Pakistan’s interest at the forefront, the PCB, on the recommendation of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2022 Technical Committee, has decided he will not be allowed to continue to participate in the HBL PSL,” it read.

Hasnain, who plays for Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, would use the time to work with the PCB-appointed bowling consultant to modify his bowling action so that he could apply for a reassessment and become eligible to return to international cricket “as quickly as practically possible.”

The handout read: “As per the Illegal Bowling Action Regulations until Mohammad Hasnain clears his reassessment, he will remain suspended from bowling in international cricket.”

ICC Illegal Bowling Action Regulations

The board advised reviewing Clause 4.5, 11.1, and 11.5 of the regulations – playing: Illegal Bowling Action Regulations, which has been effective from September 2018.

“Subject to the provisions of Article 6.12 (in which case a period of 1 year from the date of suspension must be observed), a Player who has been suspended from bowling in International Cricket under these Illegal Bowling Regulations (or from a National Cricket Federation’s domestic cricket pursuant to Article 10.2) may, at any time, apply to the ICC for an independent re-assessment of their bowling action (a “Re-Assessment”), which shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure for the Independent Assessment in Article 4.1 above, save that,” read Clause 4.5 under the heading of re-assessment of evaluation of bowling action.

Clause 11.1, which comes under the heading of recognition of decision, read: “A suspension from bowling in International Cricket imposed on a Player under these Illegal Bowling Regulations shall be respected and enforced by all National Cricket Federations in respect of domestic cricket under their jurisdiction automatically upon receipt of notice of the same, without the need for any further formality. All National Cricket Federations shall take all steps legally available to them to enforce and give effect to such decisions.”

Moreover, Clause 11.5 cites, “Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a Player has been suspended from bowling pursuant to either Articles 11.1 or 11.3 above, their National Cricket Federation may (but shall be under no obligation to) permit the Player to continue to bowl in their own domestic competitions.”