Kolkata: World T20 started with a top class performance by New Zealand who beat the hot favourite Team India followed by a stunning effort by Pakistan's Shahid Afridi to beat rising Bangladesh and England's world record run chase.
Even as Bangldesh were preparing for their much-awaited match against India, they were in for a shock as the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended pacer Taskin Ahmed and spinner Arafat Sunny from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect.
The news hit the Bangladesh team management and supporters like tsunami. Both bowlers underwent independent assessments in Chennai last week, after being reported for suspect actions during the World T20 round-one match against Netherlands. The duo returned to play the first match of main rounds of World T20 against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata where Sunny took 2 for 34 and Taskin claimed 2 for 32. They can apply for a re-assessment at any stage after modifying their bowling actions. They can continue playing in domestic league, pending the BCB's permission.
Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak was the first Bangladeshi bowler to be suspended, in November 2008, before the ban was lifted in March 2009. Al-Amin Hossain was also reported for a suspect action in 2014, but was cleared after an assessment in Chennai.
The Bangladesh cricket board has been left with no choice apart from sending the replacement of these two players to India. It is almost certain that left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib will replace Sunny in Bangladesh's World T20 squad, while Taskin will be replaced by off-spin-bowling all-rounder Shuvagata Hom.
