Nizakat allowed to resume bowling in international cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that following remedial work and reassessment, the leg-spin bowling action of Hong Kong player Nizakat Khan has been found to be legal, and the player can now resume bowling in international cricket.

Nizakat underwent a reassessment of his bowling action at National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on 6 December, where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his leg-spin deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions. Nizakat’s off-spin deliveries, which were previously tested as illegal, have not been cleared since he did not bowl them during the assessment.

The Match Officials are still at liberty to report Nizakat if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the reassessment. To assist the Match Officials, they will be provided with images and video footage of the bowler’s remodeled legal bowling action.

Nizakat was suspended from bowling after being reported during an ICC World Twenty20 Qualifying match against Nepal in Stormont, Ireland, on 15 July, 2015.