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FOLLOWING Prosper Utseya’s ban from bowling in international cricket by the International Cricket Council, Zimbabwe national selectors are now faced with a dilemma whether to select the former Zimbabwe captain as batsman for the upcoming Bangladesh tour.
When Zimbabwe visited Bangladesh for a five match One-Day International series at the end of 2010, Utseya was the second highest run scorer with 132 runs from four innings, with an average of 44, with a best score of 67 runs, just two runs behind left hander Craig Ervine who was the leading run scorer for Zimbabwe on that tour with 134 runs.
Utseya has scored 1 385 runs from 129 innings in 160 ODIs at an average of 16,89 with four half centuries to his name and a best score of an unbeaten 68 runs against Kenya in Nairobi which could see him selected purely as a batsman.
Utseya was last Wednesday prohibited from bowling in the international game after the ICC declared that his action was illegal. He was reported by the ICC match officials during Zimbabwe’s third One-Day International against South Africa at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Utseya then underwent testing at the Cardiff Metropolitan University which is an ICC accredited facility on 19 September with the results proving that all of his deliveries were illegal.
Match officials had cited concerns about Utseya’s arm ball and quicker delivery with the bowler required to undergo testing within 21 days from the day he was reported as per ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling action.
He had continued bowling even after being reported which saw him claim a hat trick against South Africa during the triangular series against Australia and South Africa. His victims were Quinton de Cock, Rilee Rossouw and David Miller on a day Utseya finished with five wickets for 36 runs which is his best bowling figures in ODIs.
Utseya now has two options, to appeal the decision by asking for a review hearing if he does not accept the results of the conclusions of the independent assessment or remodel his action and apply for re-assessment.
With a challenging tour to Bangladesh coming up for Zimbabwe in a few days time, national team coach Stephen Mangongo acknowledged that his plans have been extremely changed with Utseya not allowed to bowl. Mangongo said a decision now has to be made whether the 29-year-old can be selected as a batsman for the visit to Bangladesh.
“He has always been in the plans, now our plans have been massively affected. He is still part of the squad, he has been banned from bowling but the last time we toured Bangladesh him and Craig Ervine had the best batting averages. It is now up to him, he can appeal to the ICC or remodel his action then go for testing,’’ said Mangongo.
The national team coach last Thursday said he was going to meet with the other selectors Babu Meman and Givemore Makoni on the way forward after the ICC decision. It is understood that Utseya is still part of the national team in camp for the Bangladesh tour. The national players are playing a four-day match in Triangle which started yesterday and concludes on Tuesday ahead of the team’s departure for Bangladesh on Thursday.
A ZC Press release following the announcement by the ICC said they were looking for relevant technical expertise to work with Utseya to modify his bowling action in the shortest possible time after which an application will be made to the ICC for his re-assessment.
Utseya’s absence now means fellow off spinner John Nyumbu becomes the number one spin bowler for Zimbabwe on the tour to Bangladesh.
The ICC umpires have been strict in recent months with classifying bowlers with an illegal bowling action, especially spinners. Besides Utseya, bans have been handed out to Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan, Sohag Gazi of Bangladesh, Kan Williamson of New Zealand and Sri Lankan Sachithra Senanayake who were all found to be flexing their elbows beyond the 15-degree rule.
Utseya can still play domestic cricket with the consent of ZC.
Online Reporter