Sunil Narine cleared to play in IPL

Cricket with Dalchand Bissoon 

Sunil Narine – mystery off-spinner.
Sunil Narine – mystery off-spinner.

Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies mystery off-spinner Sunil Narine’s bowling action has been cleared by the Board of Control of Cricket (BCCI) in India and he will now be able to bowl for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League 2015.

Narine underwent a biomechanical assessment at the ICC-accredited SRMC Centre in Chennai before a bowling review committee of the BCCI.

Narine was called twice in successive matches during last year’s Champions League Twenty20 in September and had to get a clearance from the ICC accredited centres according to tournament rules. He missed out of being part of the West Indies squad on the tour to India last year and also did not participate in the regional tournament. He also pulled out of the ICC Cricket World Cup squad in January.

The 26-year-old made his Test debut for the West Indies against England at Birmingham in June 2012 and has played in six Tests taking 21 wickets. He made his ODI debut against India at Ahmedabad in December 2011 and has played in 52 ODIs taking 73 wickets and in his 32 T20Is. He has also 38 wickets to his name.

The eighth edition of the Pepsi Indian Premier League started Wednesday (April 8) with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders playing Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Teams participating in the tournament are: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderbad.

Several West Indian players are participating including Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith for Chennai Super Kings – led by India Captain M.S.Dhoni – Sunil Narine, Andre Russell for Kolkata Knigh Riders, Kieron Pollard and Lendi Simmons for Mumbai Indians captained by India’s batting star Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy for Royal Challenges Bangalore, led by India’s Vice-Captain Virat Kohli.

The tournament runs through May 17 with 56 matches. The first Qualifier is on May 19, the Eliminator in on May 20, the second Qualifier is May 22 and the final is May, 24 at the famous Eden Gardens in Koltaka.