By Neto Baptiste
Spinner Justin Athanaze is not bothered by renewed concerns over his bowling action following his nine for 44 against the Liberta Blackhawks in the domestic two-day competition.
Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo sports show, the former Leeward Islands right-arm off-break bowler who was called for suspected illegal action at the regional level back in 2011, said he has been through it all regarding his action and is no longer shaken by the chatter.
“I have been through a lot with it and eventually I did some tests and they cleared me, so I don’t know what’s the problem is now with a lot of people worrying about my stuff. I don’t worry about what people are going to say. Eventually I had done some tests and passed; I wasn’t bowling for a while so I don’t really know what’s the problem and I don’t really care what people say about it because as long as I’ve been cleared I just do my work the best way I can,” he said.
Athanaze, who picked up another five wickets for 50 runs bowling in the Liberta second innings for a total of 14 for 94 in the match, said he was only focussed on putting his team in the best position to win the match.
“What crossed my mind is going to the ground early in the right frame of mind and see how I can get my team into a best position in the game and I did but we didn’t really pull it off because our batting failed us. I always say in team meetings and on the air that as long as the captain gives me the ball at any time, I just try to do my best work for the team,” the player said.
Meanwhile, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) Leon Rodney said the body’s hands are tied in the matter as the match officials are the only ones with the power to call any bowler for suspected illegal action.
“Athanaze has never been reported for suspected action in Antigua and Barbuda and my last memory of Athanaze ever being reported was a long time ago — I was the coach of Leeward Islands at that time — in 2011, and as far as I know is that my memory tells me that he was cleared. There are two other players that people have been harassing me about and the association in general but we cannot do anything about it,” he said.
Athanaze is currently the leading bowler in the competition with 41 wickets from nine innings with an average of 6.49. He has bowled 33 maidens and boasts an economy rate of 2.57.
