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Bangladesh National Cricket Team off-spinner Aliss Al Islam has landed in trouble after being reported for a suspect bowling action following the ODI Tri-Series match against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on Wednesday, October 21.
The 29-year-old made his ODI debut in the third match of the ODI Tri-Series, involving Zimbabwe also, but concerns over his bowling action have now put him in the spotlight. Also Read: World record alert: Abhishek Sharma creates history with first-ball six vs New Zealand
Aliss Al Islam’s bowling action under ICC scanner
Aliss Al Islam conceded 47 runs in 8.3 overs during his debut ODI match for Bangladesh in Sharjah. After Bangladesh lost the match against Afghanistan, the officials raised concerns about whether the off-spinner’s bowling action was legal.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that Aliss Al Islam will now undergo an independent assessment at an ICC-accredited testing centre, as per the ICC’s rules on illegal bowling actions. The assessment will decide whether his bowling action is legal.
Notably, Bangladesh has lost both their matches in the ODI tri-series against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will now face each other in the final on October 23.
What says the ICC rules?
- 15-Degree Rule: A bowler can bend their arm while bowling, but the elbow must not straighten by more than 15 degrees between the arm reaching shoulder level and the ball being released.
- A Bent Arm is not illegal: Just because a bowler’s arm looks bent does not mean they are chucking. The amount of elbow straightening is what matters.
- Natural Elbow Movement: Some players can naturally bend their elbows backwards beyond 180 degrees. This movement is not counted when checking the 15-degree limit.
- Underarm Bowling: Underarm deliveries are not allowed under standard rules.
- Who can report a bowler? On-field umpires or match referees can report a bowler if they suspect an illegal action, either during or just after a match.
- How is it tested? The bowler must undergo independent testing at an ICC-accredited centre within 21 days under the standard process. Experts use sensors, movement technology and high-speed cameras to check the action.
- However, a reported bowler can continue bowling while waiting for the test results.
Aliss Al Islam had made his T20I debut earlier this month during Bangladesh’s Asian Games 2026 match against Sri Lanka in Japan. The off-spinner scalped one wicket in his T20I debut match while he failed to take a single wicket in his ODI debut match against Afghanistan.
Aliss Al Islam’s impressive domestic record and unique bowling style
However, Islam has impressed with his consistent performances across domestic and franchise cricket. He has picked up 39 wickets in 35 matches at an economy rate of 6.69 in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). His best bowling figures in the tournament are 4/17.
Islam has also delivered impressive performances in List A cricket. The off-spinner has taken 35 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 18.40 and an economy rate of 4.13. His best performance came against Gazi Group Cricketers where he took a sensational spell of 6/21.
He has picked up 60 wickets in 59 T20 matches at an average of 22.78 and his best figures are 4/17. Islam is known for his aggressive style and clever variations of bowling. He uses the carrom ball and arm ball effectively to trouble batters in the white-ball cricket.
