Off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is hopeful that a ban on his controversial "doosra", a disguised leg break, will soon be lifted following further research into spin bowling by the world's governing body.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) completed a two-day meeting in Dubai on Tuesday during which six former players and three biomechanics experts reviewed the game's throwing laws.
"I sincerely believe I will be allowed to bowl the doosra again," Muralitharan was quoted as saying by the Island newspaper on Wednesday. "I am keeping my fingers crossed."
Muralitharan was prevented from bowling the delivery, which spins in the opposite direction from a conventional off spinner, because his arm straightens by an average of 10 degrees, double the five degrees allowed for spin bowlers.
The ICC Cricket Committee will now discuss the issue on November 9 and 10 before making their recommendations to the executive board.
Muralitharan, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, broke West Indian Courtney Walsh's 519-Test wicket world record in May. He has 532 wickets but has since been passed by Australian leg spinner Shane Warne.
