The historic, inaugural edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Under-19 Twenty20 (T20) World Cup got underway on the 14th of January, and the Uganda women’s side with an immediate ban to a front-line bowler has left Rwanda with a puzzle to solve if they further advance.
Unfortunately, Rwanda’s fast bowler, Geovanis Uwase, has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect following the ICC declaring her action as illegal during the ongoing Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. The decision was taken by the Event Panel, which comprises members of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists.
Geovanis Uwase was reported by the match officials during Rwanda’s match against Pakistan on the 15th of January, with footage captured during their match against Zimbabwe on the 17th of January shared with the Event Panel for review.
ICC’s release read, “The assessment was carried out in accordance with clauses 3.5 and 4.7 of the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations. The Event Panel concluded that Uwase employed an illegal bowling action and, as such, in accordance with the regulations, she is immediately suspended from bowling in international cricket.
“The suspension will remain in place until such time as she submits to a re-assessment of her bowling action which confirms that she can bowl without using an illegal bowling action.”
Geovanis Uwase, in the tournament, has played all three of Rwanda’s games but did not bowl during the sides game against England on the 19th of January following the ICC’s ban. Against Zimbabwe, Uwase registered figures of 1/3 off 2 overs, and against Pakistan delivered an economical spell having registered figures of 0/15 off 4 overs.
According to the ICC regulations, a bowling action is deemed illegal if a bowler’s elbow extension exceeds 15 degrees, measured from the point at which the bowling arm reaches the horizontal until the point at which the ball is released. Any elbow hyperextension is discounted for the purposes of determining an illegal bowling action.
Rwanda for their group stage matches was placed in Group B alongside England, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe and the side having registered a win against Zimbabwe by 39 runs finishes 3rd in the group seedings with a couple of points against their profile.
(Quotes sourced from ICC media release)