Guwahati, May 31: Ace off-spinner Arlen Konwar has planned a rigorous training schedule during the off-season to adapt to the rehabilitation programme prescribed to him by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) before taking the field in the next Ranji season.

Konwar, who missed the bus for the zonal team even after tallying 30 wickets in the last Ranji Trophy season after being asked by umpire K. Hariharan to bowl wearing a half-sleeved shirt — apparently suspecting his action during the quarter-final match against Uttar Pradesh here in December — has been asked to “improve” his alignment while bowling.

The secretary of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), Bikash Baruah, however, said he had been informed by the NCA that Konwar’s bowling action had above 20 degrees of deviation.

According to the rules, a bowler cannot straighten his elbow beyond 15 degrees while delivering the ball.

“I am going to work full time on my alignment during the off season. I think I have almost adopted the prescribed alignment and a rigorous schedule of practice, which I have already started, would definitely help me overcome the psychological aspect involved,” Konwar told The Telegraph.

His career has headed for rough weather since he was invited to a rehabilitation programme along with 34 others from across the nation last year, as video analysts felt there was a certain fault in his bowling action.

The state cricket association also named him in the squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy East Zone limited-overs tournament in Cuttack where, too, the Assam team management was compelled to drop him from the playing XI after tournament officials suggested they play it safe by dropping players who were among the 35 listed by the BCCI as bowling in suspect action.

Interestingly, Konwar claimed that he was dropped from the playing XI against Bengal by the team management even without his knowledge. “We missed his services a lot with only Sairaj Bahutule left in the playing XI as a regular spinner. We had to make do with part-time spinners,” said one of the senior teammates on condition of anonymity.

One of the team officials said: “We did not have a choice because the tournament officials virtually forced us to rest him. We could not afford to take a risk with his career because any umpire could report which could jeopardise his career.”

“Arlen did the biggest blunder by not bowling in the match against Uttar Pradesh after he was asked to put on a half-sleeve shirt. Since he did not have any flaw, he should have complied with the umpire after which no one could have pointed a finger at him,” observed ACA secretary Bikash Baruah. Konwar, however, said that he could not bowl after that because he had hurt his wrist while fielding.

Assam lost all the four matches in the series.

The 29-year-old made his first class debut in 2001 and has so far tallied 145 wickets. He was at his best in the last season with the scalp of 30 wickets from seven matches.

After the Ranji Trophy semi-final and the Vijay Hazare Trophy East Zone limited-over tournament in Cuttack, the ACA sent Konwar for another camp in the NCA where no flaw was found in his action, state cricket association sources said.

After the first time that Konwar attended a rehab camp in Bangalore last year, he was reportedly cleared. The ACA, however, stated then that the NCA did not send any official communication except verbal clearance which was the case with other states’ spinners too whom the states had fielded in their teams last season.

Interview

TT: What do you feel about the row over your bowling action?

Konwar: I have never been told by the NCA experts that I had any deviation. I am surprised to know that they have informed the ACA about any such flaw in my bowling action. I was sent to the NCA for rehab programme twice and they did not find any flaw with my bowling. The only thing I was prescribed by the NCA was to improve on my alignment so that my bowling can be more effective.

The last time, I went to Bangalore for the rehab camp in February, I was almost asked to leave at the very first instance because I was not at all reported by any match official or video analyst for suspect action.

TT: Do you feel the row can jeopardise your career?

Konwar: Not at all. I am going to prove it. I am working in toto whatever has been prescribed by the NCA experts and I have already adopted them fully.

TT: What went through your mind when you were not fielded in the playing XI during the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament in Cuttack?

Konwar: It was the most disappointing moment in my entire career. I even picked up an altercation (with due apology) with the team management for dropping me without even informing me.

TT: What do you plan to do to get out of the row?

Konwar: I am working on my psychological aspect now. I am practising regularly. Once I am fully confident of myself, I think, the nerve problem while bowling in adverse conditions (with opponents trying to find flaws with my bowling) will automatically go away.

TT: Your future plans after being deprived of the best opportunity to represent the East Zone after a successful Ranji season?

Konwar: I am from Assam and my passion has always been to play for Assam. I did not sign up the ICL because I was told that I would not be able to play for Assam after joining the breakaway league. I am happy as long as I play for Assam and the ACA is with me. I will, of course, be equally zealous if I get the opportunity to represent the zone or country.