Speed: ICC is tackling throwing issue

Malcolm Speed: ICC will 'not be sidetracked by the emotional arguments that can so cloud this issue' © Getty Images

Less than 24 hours after Bob Simpson's stinging attack of it's lack of action to address what he described as a problem approaching "epidemic proportions", the ICC has announced new measures to deal with bowlers with suspect actions.

Malcolm Speed, the ICC's chief executive, said that he had seen Simpson's comments but pointed out that he had "not been a part of the ICC Bowling Review Group for several years and since he departed there has been fundamental change in the way in which the game is tackling this issue."

Speed said that he recognised that throwing was an emotive issue, but added that it was something the ICC would not shy away from. "It is important that the ICC deals with this on the basis of the facts," he explained, "and not be sidetracked by the emotional arguments that can so cloud this issue.

"The ICC is working at both the international level through its reporting, reviewing and suspension procedures and at the domestic level where it is ensuring that each country is developing an effective system to address any concerns before players emerge on to the international stage."

Simpson claimed that big-name bowlers were escaping punishment while lesser players were being targeted. Speed dismissed this. "In the past 12 months three players - Jermaine Lawson, Sanwar Hossain, and Shabbir Ahmed - have [been cited] which is an indication of the attention that is being paid to bowlers' actions by ICC umpires and referees around the world.

"I would also emphasise that every umpire and every referee judges these issues solely on what they see in front of them. From time to time there are suggestions made that a particular player is either targeted or protected. This is simply untrue."

Speed added that there was a team in place in Bangladesh to assess bowlers during the Under-19 World Cup to try and nip any problems in the bud at an early age.

And he added that while much of the attention had focussed on fast bowlers, spinners were now coming under the spotlight. "The ICC is commissioning new research relating to spinners so that we have a clear, fact based understanding of what actually takes place in a spinners and rather than solely rely on the naked eye or on TV replays which have proven to be deceptive. This will take place later this year."