The Board of Control for Cricket in India has sought an extension of the deadline to review Harbhajan Singh's bowling action and blamed the International Cricket Council for the delay in appointing an expert panel to work with the off-spinner.
"The ICC delayed in sending the video tapes of Harbhajan's action. We got it only on January 17-18. So we have written to the ICC that the six-week deadline for constituting an expert panel be made operational from that date," BCCI secretary S K Nair told newspersons in Kolkata.
Nair said the BCCI is now awaiting a response from the game's international governing body on its missive.
"We have an action plan ready. We have worked out the details," Nair added.
The BCCI has also tentatively chosen an expert from ICC's panel.
"We are now waiting to hear from him whether he is ready for the assignment," he informed.
Harbhajan was reported for suspect bowling action at the end of the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong on December 20.
As per the ICC's guidelines, the home Board has to constitute a three-member panel to work with the bowler and correct his action within six weeks from the date of receiving the report. That deadline expires at the end of this month.
With regard to action required of the ICC when the report is notified, clause B (4.2) under the Reporting Procedue states "the ICC will send two copies of the tape to the player's home board. The Board should retain one copy for review and forward the other copy to the reported player".
