Narine boost for KKR as BCCI clears him with final warning

In a big boost to the Kolkata Knight Riders, the BCCI on Thursday cleared Sunil Narine's action after giving him a final warning, paving the way for the mystery spinner to bowl in the ongoing Indian Premier League cricket tournament.

Coming clean after a rehabilitation program post being called for chucking in last year's Champions League T20, Narine was once again called for a suspect action in this IPL edition and subsequently barred from bowling the off-spinners on April 28.

The West Indian though requested for a further Official Assessment by the BCCI Suspect Bowling Action Committee and he got the much-needed reprieve.

"This request was received and accordingly the player underwent a third biomechanical analysis of his action at the ICC and BCCI accredited Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy and Sports Sciences Centre (SRASSC) in Chennai – this time for his remodelled action (i.e. the one that had been cleared by the Committee immediately before the IPL season)," said a BCCI media release.

"This analysis has re-confirmed the conclusion of the first Official Assessment by the Committee – namely that the remodelled action for the off-spinner does not contravene Law 24.2 (as read with Law 24.3)."

Even though Australian chinaman bowler Brad Hogg had filled the Narine's void, but the KKR think-tank had always insisted that the team needs the wily off-spinner in their ranks.

And the BCCI has clearly stated that the spinner can bowl all the deliveries in his armoury with his remodelled action.

"Accordingly, the Committee has determined that Mr Narine's name be removed from the IPL Suspected Illegal Bowling Action Policy's Warning List and that he may once more bowl all deliveries (the off-spinner, the knuckle ball and the quicker straight ball) in matches organised by the BCCI including the IPL.

"The Committee, however, has drawn Mr Narine's attention to paragraph 4.9 of the IPL Suspected Illegal Bowling Action Policy.  Any further report for a suspected illegal bowling action during the course of this season will automatically mean that Mr Narine is banned from bowling for the rest of the season. The player has therefore been cautioned to be careful not to again deviate from his remodelled action," the BCCI release added.

With another four games to go for the Gautam Gambhir-led side, KKR are fourth in the table with five wins and four

losses so far.