Prasanna calls for uniform guidelines for bowling action

Kolkata, Apr 24 (UNI) Spin icon Erapalli Prasanna today suggested that the BCCI hold back promising youngsters with a suspect bowling arm from playing international fixtures and frame a uniform guideline for rectification of such actions.

''Players with doubtful bowling action who have the potential to make it big should not be exposed to the international stage before their action is remedied,'' Prasanna told reporters here today.

Prasanna said that he had expressed his views about Parmar's action to the BCCI last year. ''But the board picked him for the under-19 tourney, and now he has become the subject of discussions for all the wrong reasons. They should have first rectified his action, and then only allowed him to play the Cup.'' The legendary spinner's suggestion came in the wake of teenage offie Mohnish Parmar being reported for suspect bowling action during the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

He said the corrective measures needed to be taken when the bowler is at the under-15 or under-17 levels.

''For instance, if I do not like a bowler's action, I tell him immediately, and give a remedial action,'' said Prasanna, now a bowling consultant at the National Cricket Academy.

Prasanna also called upon the board to arrange for a thorough debate on the method by calling all 'respected bowling exponents'.

''A uniform guideline must then be framed based on the inputs and all the coaches should tune their line of thinking accordingly,'' he said.

UNI BA RL KP2141