Former India captain and ICC Cricket Committee-Playing chairman Sunil Gavaskar says the degrees of flexion with regard to legal bowling action is "not a definite thing".
"The ICC after conducting a study with the help of biomechanics noticed there was certain amount of flexion in most [bowlers'] actions when seen in slow motion.
"So they felt some degrees of flexion should be allowed. There are certain numbers for spinners and quick bowlers. But I do not think it is a definite thing," Gavaskar said at a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday.
The Indian batting legend's comments come hours after the International Cricket Council deemed as illegal Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's doosra, the delivery that spins away from right-handers.
The ICC said the biomechanics report clearly mentioned that Muralitharan straightens his arm beyond the permissible degree of five for a slow bowler while delivering the doosra.
However, the degrees of flexion has so far not been incorporated in the Laws of the Game.
Law 24 of the ICC rules defines a fair delivery, in respect of the arm, "if once the bowler's arm has reached the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing, the elbow joint is not straightened partially or completely from that point until the ball has left the hand."
Gavaskar also clarified that the on-field umpires are still empowered to 'no-ball' a bowler "if they feel 100 per cent sure that his action is illegal".
"But when he is not cent per cent sure, he -- and even the Match Referee -- can call for video evidence."
The issue of illegal bowling action will top the agenda for the Cricket Committee when it meets on Thursday in Dubai.
