BANGLADESH’S Sohag Gazi and Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya have been suspended from bowling in international cricket after the International Cricket Council (ICC) ruled their actions were illegal.

The ICC ruled the off-spinners had exceeded the 15-degree limit of arm extension in their bowling actions permitted by its regulations.
“The International Cricket Council today confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling actions of Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi and Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya to be illegal and, as such, both off-spinners have been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect,” an ICC statement said.
In accordance with ICC rules, both players can apply for reassessment once they have modified their bowling actions.
Utseya’s action was reported after the one-day international against South Africa in Bulawayo on August 21, and Gazi’s action was called into question after an ODI against the West Indies in St George’s a day later.
Utseya is Zimbabwe’s second highest ODI wicket-taker with 130 wickets in 160 games, while Gazi has 22 victims in 20 ODI matches.
Their bowling suspensions come a few months after fellow off-spinners Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan), Sachithra Senanayake (Sri Lanka) and Kane Williamson (New Zealand) were also banned from bowling in international fixtures for illegal actions.