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Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake banned from bowling by ICC after action deemed to be illegal

Image: Sachithra Senanayake: Banned by the ICC

Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake has been banned from bowling in international cricket after he was found to bowl with an illegal action.

The 29-year-old was reported by the on-field umpires during last month's ODI series with England, and was ordered to undergo testing by the International Cricket Council.

Four deliveries sent down in the fourth ODI at Lord's were deemed to be in breach of the 15-degree elbow extension permitted under ICC rules, and he has been suspended from bowling internationally.

A statement read: "The Standard ICC Illegal Action Testing Protocol was used to assess the degree of elbow extension from the point of upper arm horizontal to ball release within the bowling action.

"The 15-degree elbow extension threshold was exceeded in the four deliveries considered to be suspect in the 4th ODI played at Lords.         

"The report concludes that Sachithra (Senanayake) bowled with an illegal bowling action and consequently he is banned from bowling in international cricket, effective immediately."

Sri Lanka won the one day series against England 3-2, with Senanayake taking nine wickets, and he also played in the ODI against South Africa on Saturday July 12.

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He took 1-66 and scored 13 runs in Hambantota as South Africa won the series decider by 82 runs.

Sri Lanka cricket chiefs had earlier defended Senanayake saying that he had over the past two years played many bilateral ICC tournaments without a hint of suspicion.

He has played in 39 ODIs and taken 40 wickets.

He has also played one Test match against Pakistan, but took no wickets, while he has featured in 17 T20 matches with a haul of 18 wickets.

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