Match officials flagged concerns about the legality of Aliss Al Islam‘s bowling action after his ODI debut for Bangladesh against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 21, 2026. The report was filed following a Bangladesh defeat that ended their involvement in the tri-series without a single win. The 29-year-old off-spinner returned figures of 47 runs from 8.3 overs in the contest.
The match was held at Sharjah rather than Abu Dhabi, where it had originally been scheduled. Bangladesh had also lost to Zimbabwe earlier in the tournament, meaning they were eliminated before the final. Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are set to meet in that decider on October 23, 2026.
Aliss had only recently entered international cricket. He received his maiden T20I cap for Bangladesh earlier in October 2026 during the side’s Asian Games contest against Sri Lanka, making his ODI debut just days later. The fresh report arrives at a particularly difficult moment, given how recently he broke into the national setup.
What does the ICC process now require of Aliss Al Islam?
Under the ICC Illegal Bowling Action Regulations, a bowler reported by match officials must submit to an Independent Assessment at an ICC Accredited Testing Centre. The assessment examines whether the degree of elbow extension during the bowling action exceeds the threshold permitted under the regulations.
The specific testing centre where Aliss will be evaluated has not been confirmed, nor has any timeline for the completion of the process been announced. Crucially, he remains eligible to play while the assessment is pending. Any further action will depend entirely on the findings once the evaluation is complete.
Has Aliss Al Islam faced scrutiny over his action before?
This is not the first occasion on which Aliss has come under official scrutiny for his bowling action. According to records, he was reported for a suspect action just two days after taking a hat-trick on his domestic T20 debut on January 11, 2019, making the current report his second across formats.
That earlier episode did not prevent him from continuing his career at the domestic level and eventually earning international recognition. However, facing a second report so soon after his ODI debut, at the age of 29, represents a notable setback as he attempts to establish himself in Bangladesh’s limited-overs plans.
