The United States women’s Cricket player Isani Vaghela has been suspended from International bowling. This action follows the discovery of her improper bowling technique during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026 in Nepal. Match officials noted her illegal bowling during the game against Ireland.
The ICC Event Panel reviewed the incident based on a report from match officials. They found that Vaghela’s bowling action did not meet ICC standards, violating the regulations that led to her immediate suspension under Article 6.7.
Understanding ICC Rules on Bowling Actions
According to ICC regulations, a bowler’s elbow extension must remain below 15 degrees during delivery. Exceeding this limit is classified as throwing, not bowling.
The ICC outlines its procedures for addressing illegal bowling actions. It states:
“An illegal bowling action is defined as throwing, where a player’s elbow extends more than 15 degrees between their arm reaching horizontal and the ball being released. Match officials observe players during games and report any suspicions of illegal actions,” as per ICC regulations.
“Players are then tested at an ICC Accredited Testing Centre with advanced technology and supervision from human movement experts. The outcomes of these tests determine if the bowler has an illegal action, leading to suspension until they correct their technique and pass a follow-up review,” it adds.
Vaghela must undergo testing at an ICC-accredited center to see if she can resume bowling.
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Suspension Duration and Future Steps
Vaghela will remain suspended until she completes a re-assessment to prove she has developed a legal bowling motion. She can still participate in matches, but her international bowling activities are on hold.
At 20 years old, Vaghela has become a key player for USA cricket. She debuted in 2021 and has played in 37 T20 Internationals and six One Day Internationals, taking 32 T20I wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.87 and 4 ODI wickets.
Challenges for USA Cricket
This suspension creates additional problems for USA Cricket. It comes on the heels of another issue, as the ICC recently suspended Aaron Jones, a USA men’s cricketer, for five violations of the anti-corruption code.
ICC stated:
“Jones has received a provisional suspension from all cricket activities, effective immediately, and he must respond to the allegations within 14 days from January 28, 2026.”
The allegations relate to matches in the Bim10 tournament during the 2023–24 season and include international games governed by ICC rules.
