Bangladesh off-spinner Aliss Al Islam has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action after his ODI debut against Afghanistan in Sharjah on 21 October.
The ICC confirmed the report in a media release on Thursday, saying match officials had raised concerns about the legality of the 29-year-old’s action during the tri-nation series match in the United Arab Emirates.
Under ICC regulations, Aliss must undergo biomechanical testing at an ICC-accredited laboratory within the next 14 days. However, he will be allowed to continue bowling in international cricket until the test results are available.
A report does not automatically mean a bowler has an illegal action. An action is deemed illegal when the bowler’s elbow extends by more than 15 degrees between the arm reaching shoulder level and the release of the ball. Specialists will use modern technology and biomechanical analysis to assess Aliss’s action independently.
If the testing confirms a breach, he will be suspended from bowling in international cricket until he corrects his action and passes a reassessment.
His ODI debut was one to forget. Bangladesh lost by seven wickets to Afghanistan, missing out on a place in the final of the tri-nation series.
Aliss had also played at the Asian Games in Japan earlier in October. During the T20 match against Sri Lanka, neither the umpires nor the referee raised any concerns about his action, making the latest report all the more unexpected.
This is not the first time his action has been questioned. In the 2019 Bangladesh Premier League, he took a hat-trick on his debut for Dhaka Dynamites against Rangpur Riders. Umpires reported him two days later, and a lengthy suspension followed.
He corrected his action and impressed in domestic cricket, only to face further scrutiny in January 2025 while playing for Chittagong Kings. Umpires questioned his action during matches against Fortune Barishal and Rangpur Riders.
After passing an assessment by the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s bowling action review committee, Aliss earned his national call-up. The latest report presents another challenge as he seeks to establish himself in international cricket.