Harbhajan Singh did a great job to get his action right: ICC CEO David Richardson

“At one stage his action came under a bit of scrutiny. He did a fantastic job in adapting his action to make sure that he was bowling legally. And now there is no question marks,” Richardson said on the sidelines of an ICC event here on Monday.

The ICC has come down hard on bowlers with illegal actions in recent times. In the last three months, three international off-spinners, including Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal, have been banned for bending their arm more than the prescribed limit. But with the 2015 WC coming up early next year, several former cricketers have criticised the timing of the world body’s action.

Richardson however, insisted that the ICC had done the right thing and rubished sugestions of a conspiracy.

“I think yes the ICC has cracked down on bowlers that are extending their arm during the delivery and there is no conspiracy about the timing of it,” he said. Harbhajan, who was also present on the occassion, backed the ICC’s move to rid the game of illegal actions.

“I have been called twice in my career. Once in 1999 when I just started out in international cricket and also in 2006.

“There is a limit set by the ICC and if any bowler goes beyond that limit there are people who are watching it. They are not asking anyone to stop playing cricket but all they are saying is learn to bowl within the rules set by the ICC,” he said.