Prenelan Subrayen Cleared: Proteas Spinner Passes ICC Bowling Assessment in Brisbane
South African spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who came under ICC scrutiny last month, has been cleared of illegal bowling action charges after an independent assessment in Brisbane. The ICC has banned many bowlers over the years for illegal actions, which has sometimes led to big controversies in Test and ODI cricket. Subrayen recently faced similar charges during the first ODI between South Africa and Australia in Cairns but has now successfully avoided an international ban, keeping his place in the Proteas squad.
After being reported for an illegal bowling action during a match against Australia, Proteas spinner Prenelan Subrayen was called by the ICC for an independent bowling assessment at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane. The tests on August 26 showed that his elbow extension for all deliveries was within the ICC’s allowed limit of 15 degrees.
ICC Cracks Down on Illegal Bowling Actions
With his action now cleared, Subrayen can continue bowling in international cricket. He has played only two international matches so far, making his Test debut against Zimbabwe and his ODI debut against Australia. Despite taking five international wickets, he was not included in South Africa’s squad for the England series.
The Proteas ended a 27-year wait for an ICC trophy by winning their first World Test Championship title in 2025 and since then, Temba Bavuma’s team has been unstoppable. Under his captaincy, South Africa achieved their first ODI series win in Australia in 35 years and repeated a similar feat in England including a thrilling 5-run victory in the second ODI to win a bilateral series on English soil for the first time in 27 years.
ICC Cracks Down on Illegal Bowling Actions
Over the years, many well-known bowlers have been banned by the ICC for illegal bowling actions. One of the most talked-about cases was Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was banned in 2014. Tests showed that his arms bent between 42 and 44 degrees, which is much more than the allowed 15 degrees. Around the same time, Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake faced a similar ban because four of his deliveries broke the rule.
Other bowlers have faced bans too. Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar was banned for a short time but got it overturned later. South Africa’s Johan Botha was banned twice in 2006 and 2009. Others include Pakistan’s Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Abdur Razzaq, West Indies’ Marlon Samuels, and Shane Shillingford, who was banned right after his first international match.
Complete List of Bowlers Banned by ICC
Bowler Name | Country | Bowling Type | Year Reported/Banned | Current Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matthew Kuhnemann | Australia | Left-arm spinner | 2025 | Reported, cleared | Reported after Sri Lanka Tests, cleared after Brisbane assessment |
Aimee Maguire | Ireland | Left-arm spinner | 2025 | Suspended | 18-year-old suspended after India ODI, elbow extension exceeded 15 degrees |
Prenelan Subrayen | South Africa | Off-spinner | 2025 | Reported, later cleared | Reported in ODI vs Australia, cleared after assessment |
Kelis Ndhlovu | Zimbabwe | Left-arm spinner | 2025 | Suspended | 19-year-old suspended from bowling, can play as specialist batter |
Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | Left-arm spinner | 2024 | Suspended, cleared | Reported while playing for Surrey, action remodelled and cleared |
Chris Green | Australia | Off-spinner | 2020 | 90-day ban | Reported in BBL 2019-20, handed 90-day ban |
Sunil Narine | West Indies | Off-spinner | 2018 | Suspended twice, cleared | Mystery spinner, lost effectiveness after action changes |
Akila Dananjaya | Sri Lanka | Spinner | 2018 | 12-month ban | Reported twice in two years, 12-month ban enforced |
Bangladesh | Fast bowler | 2016 | Suspended, cleared | Reported during World T20, later cleared after remodelling | |
Arafat Sunny | Bangladesh | Left-arm spinner | 2016 | Suspended, cleared | Reported with Taskin in 2016 World T20 |
Saeed Ajmal | Pakistan | Off-spinner | 2014 | 12-month ban | Elbow extension 42-44 degrees, lost effectiveness after return |
Sachithra Senanayake | Sri Lanka | Off-spinner | 2014 | Suspended, cleared | Four deliveries breached 15-degree rule at Lord's |
Prosper Utseya | Zimbabwe | Off-spinner | 2014 | Suspended, cleared | Quickly changed action and cleared almost immediately |
Sohag Gazi | Bangladesh | Off-spinner | 2014 | Suspended, cleared | Reported mid-series, returned after remodelling |
Kane Williamson | New Zealand | Part-time spinner | 2014 | Suspended, cleared | Rarely bowls now, cleared in December 2014 |
Marlon Samuels | West Indies | Off-spinner | 2013 | 12-month ban | Quicker delivery deemed illegal, continued with off-spin |
Shane Shillingford | West Indies | Off-spinner | 2013 | Suspended | Second suspension, banned from domestic cricket in 2019 |
Shane Shillingford | West Indies | Off-spinner | 2010 | 6-month suspension | First suspension, cleared after 6 months |
Abdur Razzak | Bangladesh | Left-arm spinner | 2008 | 6-month suspension | Elbow flexion 22-28 degrees |
Johan Botha | South Africa | Off-spinner | 2006 | Doosra permanently banned | Cleared for regular deliveries, doosra remained banned |
James Kirtley | England | Fast bowler | 2005 | Suspended, cleared | ECB deemed action illegal, cleared after remodelling |
Shabbir Ahmed | Pakistan | Fast bowler | 2005 | 12-month ban | Multiple reports culminated in 12-month ban |
Shoaib Akhtar | Pakistan | Fast bowler | 1999 | Reported, cleared on appeal | Rawalpindi Express, suspension overturned |
Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | Off-spinner | 1995 | Called for throwing | Called by Darrell Hair, rules changed to 15-degree limit |
Henry Olonga | Zimbabwe | Fast bowler | 1995 | Called for throwing | Called in Test match |
Mohammad Hafeez | Pakistan | Off-spinner | Multiple | 12-month ban (2015) | Professor of cricket, multiple reports and bans |
