United States of America (USA) women’s cricketer Isani Vaghela has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after her action was deemed illegal under the ICC’s bowling regulations. The decision was confirmed by the International Cricket Council following an assessment conducted during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Nepal.
Vaghela was reported by match officials during the USA’s Group Stage encounter against Ireland. As per ICC protocol, footage from her subsequent match in the tournament was reviewed by an Event Panel, which concluded that her bowling action exceeded the permitted level of elbow extension outlined in Article 6.7 of the ICC regulations. The suspension means Vaghela is prohibited from bowling in international cricket until she undergoes remedial work and successfully clears a reassessment.
The 20-year-old has been a regular feature in the USA women’s setup over the past few years, operating primarily as a seam-bowling all-rounder. Vaghela has represented the USA in 39 Women’s T20 Internationals (WT20Is), picking up 31 wickets at an economy rate under five, making her one of the more economical options in the side. She has also featured in six Women’s One Day Internationals (WODIs), adding further experience across formats.
Under the ICC’s Illegal Bowling Action Regulations, Isani Vaghela’s suspension will remain in place until she completes a clearly defined corrective process. The first step involves remedial work, during which Vaghela must modify her bowling action to bring it within the permitted elbow extension limit of 15 degrees. Once Vaghela and USA Cricket believe the action has been corrected, she can apply for an independent reassessment at an ICC-accredited testing centre. During this assessment, her bowling action will be analysed using high-speed cameras and motion-tracking technology to measure elbow extension across all deliveries. Only if her action is found to be legal will the suspension be lifted.
While the suspension prevents her from bowling, Vaghela remains eligible to be selected as a batter. This, however, poses a challenge for a USA side that relies heavily on multi-skilled players, particularly in global tournaments where squad depth and balance play a crucial role. Her absence as a bowling option will require the team management to reshuffle combinations and distribute workloads among the remaining bowlers.
The incident once again highlights the scrutiny faced by bowlers at the international level, especially during ICC events. The reporting process is designed to ensure fairness and uniformity in bowling actions across nations, with players given clear pathways to correct and reassess their actions. For associate nations like the USA, such situations also underline the importance of access to specialised coaching, biomechanical analysis, and long-term technical support.
For Vaghela, the suspension represents a setback but not an end. Several international cricketers have successfully remodeled their actions and returned stronger after similar interventions. With time, guidance, and structured support, the young all-rounder will hope to work through the corrective process and reclaim her role as a key bowling option for the USA.
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