Sohag to miss first Test after being reported for action

Bangladesh off-spinner Sohag Gazi will return home from West Indies after he was reported for a suspect bowling action at the end of the second ODI in Grenada.

The match officials’ report, which was handed over to Bangladesh team manager Habibul Bashar on Aug 23, cited concerns about the legality of the 23-year-old’s bowling action for all deliveries.

The 23-year-old is required to undergo examination before Sep 19 and is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the test are available.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wants his bowling action tested at the Cardiff Metropolitan University in England.

Sohag, though was primed to play the first Test, returned early from the Caribbean tour to apply for the visa.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Taskin Ahmed and Mohammad Mithun, who were only in the limited-overs squad, will accompany Shohag home.

Taijul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Robiul Islam and Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury have already reached West Indies after they were drafted into the Test squad.

“At first we thought he (Sohag) could play the first Test. But the visa process is lengthy and the board will not take the risk. So we’ve asked him to return with the ODI players,” chief selector Faruk Ahmed said.

The first of the two-Test series starts from Sep 5 at the Arnos Vale Ground in Grenada.