USA allrounder Nisarg Patel banned from bowling due to suspect action

Nisarg Patel, the USA allrounder, has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after an independent assessment found his action to be illegal.

Patel, a left-arm spinner, was reported after his side's ODI against Oman on February 11 in Kathmandu. He bowled seven overs in the game, returning figures of 0 for 37.

An assessment was then carried out by an expert panel, as per clause 4.7 of the ICC's illegal bowling regulations, which concluded that Patel's bowling action was above the permitted 15-degree level. His suspension will remain in place until he undertakes a review of his action by the ICC's expert panel, or is cleared by an ICC testing centre.

It is possible that Patel will continue to be picked as a batsman alone. While he averages just 20.28 in ODIs, he made a maiden half-century in the game against Oman earlier in the month from only 32 balls, USA's fastest ODI fifty.