BCCI tells officials to remain tough on chucking

The umpires and match referees who will officiate in the Indian Premier League were told by the BCCI to not hesitate to report a bowler's action should they find it suspect.

On a day when Sunil Narine was cleared to bowl in the IPL, the BCCI re-emphasised the importance of keeping players with suspect actions at bay on the last day of the IPL officials' conclave. The message is being interpreted by the match officials as a sign of BCCI's tough stance against chucking.

Match officials, most of whom will be from India during IPL 2015, admitted the discussion came as reassurance to them as they dealt with suspect actions. An official said the umpires would continue to be proactive in pointing out discrepancies in the action of bowlers during the IPL.

The ICC's drive against chucking has filtered into Indian cricket with more than 100 bowlers being reported for suspect actions in the domestic season, and Test spinner Pragyan Ojha being suspended during the Ranji Trophy season. Narine, on the other hand, was suspended from bowling in India while representing Kolkata Knight Riders after being reported twice during the last year's Champions League Twenty20. Three other bowlers - Lahore Lions' Adnan Rasool and Mohammad Hafeez, and Dolphins' Prenelan Subrayen - were also reported for suspect action during the CLT20.

While Ojha was cleared just before the IPL player auction in February, Narine's remodelled action was cleared by the BCCI on Sunday.