Chandika livid with ICC

Bangladesh normally presents a cricketer, if not the captain, for a pre-match press briefing in the middle of a tournament. But when team manager Khaled Mahmud said that coach Chandika Hathurusingha would attend the briefing on Thursday evening ahead of today's crucial ICC World T20 qualifier against Ireland at Dharamsala, it carried special significance.

Although it was supposed to be a day for the Tigers to relax a bit after their eight-run win against the Netherlands, they were actually going through a kind of storm following Wednesday night's leaked news that two Bangladesh bowlers -- pacer Taskin Ahmed and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny -- were reported to Zimbabwean match referee Andy Pycroft by the on-field umpires, Australian Rod Tucker and Indian S Ravi, for suspect actions.

And when Hatuhrusingha took his seat at the Dharamsala Media Centre on Thursday afternoon he was confronted with the obvious question regarding the allegedly suspect actions of Taskin and Sunny.

He first acknowledged it and then gave a piece of his mind about the ruling, centring especially on Taskin.

“They have some concerns over two of our bowlers, they were reported. So at this stage whatever the procedure the ICC has to do, we are following that procedure.”

An International Cricket Council (ICC) press release on the matter stated that the ICC is working with the Bangladesh team management to confirm times for the independent testing of the bowlers at the ICC-accredited testing centre in Chennai. According to ICC regulations, “…every reasonable effort shall be made for the Independent Assessment to be carried out and the Independent Assessment Report furnished within a period of 7 days from the date of receipt of the Match Officials' Report.”

It also stated that the players can continue playing within that period.

While Sabbir Rahman (R) will look to put an off-day against Netherlands behind him, Mushfiqur Rahim's problems run much deeper, with the diminutive batsman going through an extended lean patch which he is finding hard to come out of. photo: BCB

Hathurusingha, who appeared absolutely furious at the developments, said that it would not disturb the mindset of the team.

“They can play; they can bowl, bat and field. It's about how you take it. I think the bowlers are strong enough to understand that they are doing it right. We also think we have no concerns. They played so much cricket recently as well. It's a surprise for us…  I don't think it's going to affect the way we are playing,” said a stone-faced Hathurusingha.

Although cricketing circles in Bangladesh were aware that Sunny's action might be a case for doubt, there were not the slightest of doubts regarding young Taskin. Having played a lot of cricket recently and suffered a lot of injuries, Bangladesh can ill afford to lose more players.

Hathurusingha expressed grave concerns about this official action, which is certainly a bolt from the blue for the Tigers.

“I have not spoken to them [match officials]. But that's a concern as well. If they have a concern about my bowlers, I have a concern about their [ICC's] actions as well," he said acidly.

Regarding Bangladesh's next game against Ireland, the Bangladesh coach said that he was not worried about his misfiring batting line-up.

“Not really, I would love them to score more runs.  There are concerns with some senior players. We know that they are capable of more than what they are doing now. The good thing is that we are putting a score that can be competitive. Besides, the guys who are getting in are making a good contribution and that takes the pressure off from some of the guys who are not doing well. I hope very soon these guys will also come into form and contribute,” said Hatuhrusingha without mentioning the names of two non-firing batsmen -- Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.