Chauhan’s action study inconclusive

Rajesh Chauhan at the nets with Kapil Dev in the background studying his action. CALCUTTA, June 24:Off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan will be con...

Rajesh Chauhan at the nets with Kapil Dev in the background studying his action.

CALCUTTA, June 24:Off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan will be considered for selection to the Indian cricket team for the Asia Cup which begins in Colombo on July 14. Chauhan, who had been sidelined with a suspect bowling action, was one of the leading bowlers in the last domestic season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had advised the national selection committee not to considered Chauhan after the International Cricket Council (ICC) had raised doubts over the bowler’s action. The ICC also sent a video clipping of Chauhan’s action after the tour of New Zealand in 1995 in support of their position.

The BCCI constituted a committee comprising former captains Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev to study Chauhan’s action. Gavaskar, member of ICC’s cricket committee and Kapil Dev who is a part of an ICC body that reviews suspect bowling actions, studied the video tape and also made Chauhan bowl at the nets. However, their finding’s were inconclusive as the ICC recording did not have a side view of Chauhan’s action.

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Moreover, both the former captains felt that the bowler was conscious of his action at the nets and therefore may not have been bowling the way he normally would have in a match. It was then decided that a correct assessment could only be made after viewing the bowler’s action in a match.

While informing the details, the outgoing secretary of BCCI Jagmohan Dalmiya said that ICC had been informed about the committee’s findings. After that it was decided that the bowler should not be deprived further of international action and to make him available for the Sri Lankan tour. The Board has requested the ICC to provide proper footage of Chauhan’s action with a side view as that would help the committee to study the shoulder rotation.

The national selectors will meet here on Saturday to select the probables for the fitness camp to be held in Bangalore from July 1-10. The final team will be named during the course of the camp. The captain will, however, be decided on Saturday itself.