Dabholkar, Herwadkar cleared; Jaiswal remains suspended

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Akhil Herwadkar.

Two of the three Mumbai spinners whose bowling action had come under the scanner have been cleared of suspect action charges. While left-arm spinner Vishal Dabholkar and part-time off-spinner Akhil Herwadkar’s tests revealed they were bowling with a legal action according to the rules, rookie offie Ankush Jaiswal will continue to remain suspended till he gets his action corrected.

“We have been informed that Dabholkar and Herwadkar can resume bowling with immediate effect,” Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar, Mumbai Cricket Association joint-secretary, told The Hindu. “Jaiswal needs to be rehabilitated. The MCA will continue to lend all the requisite support to ensure he returns to top-flight cricket after acquiring all the necessary clearances.”

After being reported for suspect action during the Ranji Trophy, the triumvirate had undergone tests at the ICC-accredited centre at Sri Ramachandra University campus in Chennai.

Music to the ears

That Dabholkar, Mumbai’s lead spinner for three seasons now, and Herwadkar, who bagged a six-wicket haul against Punjab in October, have been allowed to bowl will bring music to the ears of the Mumbai team management.

When Dabholkar was suspended from bowling with two of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy league games remaining, he was the leading wicket-taker for the 40-time champion side with a tally of 27 wickets.

Now that the question marks over his bowling action have been taken of, he is gunning to help Mumbai regain the Ranji Trophy.

“I am extremely happy with the results. I knew all along that I wasn’t doing wrong and neither were all my teammates, coaching staff and MCA officials,” Dabholkar said. “After being reported for the action, I was analysing the videos along with (Mumbai bowling coach) Omkar Salvi, and he was sure that the only time the action was changing minutely was when I had started tiring.

“We will continue to work on the technical aspects to avoid it. But I was always confident I was bowling with a clean action. I hope to return to action during the Ranji knockouts.”

As a result of his suspension, Dabholkar wasn’t considered for Mumbai’s limited-over campaign for the season, including next week’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the inter-State T20 league. The 28-year-old, however, doesn’t believe his action hampered his chances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaigns. “I have hardly played a one-dayer for Mumbai and have never been selected for a T20 campaign,” he said. “Maybe, the selectors feel I am best suited for the longer version. I have no problems with it.”

No bearing

While Dabholkar’s availability will have no bearing on the T20 campaign — it is understood that he doesn’t feature in the yet-to-be announced squad for the league starting January 2 — Herwadkar being allowed to bowl his quickish off-breaks will help Mumbai’s cause.

Once the focus shifts back to the Ranji Trophy knockouts, scheduled from February 3, Dabholkar will be the key to Mumbai’s chances of regaining the title after three years.

On pitches that would have slowed down towards the end of yet another gruelling domestic season, Dabholkar’s spin will be vital.

Chairman of Mumbai’s senior selection panel Milind Rege, in an interview to The Hindu on Sunday, had raised serious concerns over the lack of options in the spin department for Mumbai.

“We are disappointed with Mumbai’s spin department because the guys who have picked wickets have been reported for suspect actions,” Rege said.

“All this happens because of a certain type of cricket they play. I think the MCA should have taken firm action when bowlers with suspect actions were brought to their notice. The umpires need to look at these cases closely.”