Taskin Ahmed Will Play Internationally Again Soon: Heath Streak

Bangladesh bowling coach Heath Streak is confident that Taskin Ahmed will soon return to international cricket.

Bangladesh bowling coach Heath Streak is confident that Taskin Ahmed will soon adjust his bowling action and return to international cricket. (Photo: AP)

Bangladesh bowling coach Heath Streak is confident that suspended pacer Taskin Ahmed will soon adjust his bowling action and return to action in international cricket.

According to the Zimbabwean great, the 20-year-old right-arm pacer will be prepared to go through International Cricket Council’s (ICC) bowling assessment again in May.

After being slapped with suspensions by the ICC during Bangladesh’s World Twenty20 campaign, Taskin and spinner Arafat Sunny started working on their bowling actions on Monday.

Suspended bowler Taskin Ahmed began working on his bowling action on Monday. (Photo: AP)

Although the duo is barred from playing international games, they are eligible to play domestic competitions in Bangladesh.

Taskin may not have Streak by his side all through the adjustment of his action as the former Zimbabwe pacer is set to work with the Gujarat Lions in the Indian Premier League, which will be held after the World T20.

Streak has asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board coaching staff to keep the duo under close observation and keep in touch with him as well.

I think because we haven’t got any international cricket, we don’t have time pressure. I think within one month to six weeks we can get his test. We just need to be hundred percent before we send him to get reinstated, I don’t think it’s a major problem for us... it’s something that you can remedy very quickly.

<b>Heath Streak</b>

Taskin and Sunny were reported for suspect actions after the World T20 first-round match against the Netherlands.

Both of them had undergone bowling assessments in Chennai, following which the bowlers were banned for illegal actions.

Taskin took the test on March 15 where three of his balls exceeded the 15-degree angle of tolerance. Streak believes the young pacer will be able to fix his action without much trouble.

His action, in my opinion, never changed from when I first came and started working with him... we never really had any reason to suspect, so even I was surprised. Only three out of his nine bouncers were over the limit. In fact, all his quick bouncers were within the legal limit. It was actually his slower ones (which were ruled illegal). The fatigue may have caused the problem. I don’t think it’s a big problem for us to fix, I am confident we can get him back to play.

<b>Heath Streak</b>