The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended Zimbabwe's 19-year-old all-rounder Kelis Ndhlovu from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect. During the first ODI of the series between Zimbabwe and Ireland in Belfast on July 26, her action was reported by the match officials. After assessment in Pretoria, South Africa, her bowling action has been deemed illegal.
However, Ndhlovu's suspension can be removed if she submits to a re-assessment of her bowling action. She will have to prove that she has made changes to her bowling action which was earlier proved illegal.
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The left-arm spinner claimed three wickets for 50 runs from nine overs against Ireland in the match her bowling action was reported. Zimbabwe ended up losing the match by 93 runs. She bowled in the next ODI as well but remained wicketless and conceded 36 runs.
Ndhlovu’s bowling stats
Made her T20I and ODI debut in 2022 and 2023 respectively, Ndhlovu has played 13 ODIs and 51 T20Is so far. From 13 ODIs, she has 19 wickets at an average of 19.36, including a five-wicket haul. Her economy rate in ODIs is 3.57 runs per over.
She is a regular in the T20I side, claiming 44 wickets at an average of 19.79. Her economy rate in T20Is is 5.89 runs per over.
Ndhlovu can continue as a batter
However, Ndhlovu can continue playing international cricket for Zimbabwe as a batter. From 13 ODI innings, she has 192 runs at an average of 16, including a half-century. In 48 T20I innings, she has scored 822 runs at an average of 19.11, including two half-centuries.
Zimbabwe’s next clash
Zimbabwe's next clash is on August 31 against Namibia. It is their first match of ICC Women's T20 World Cup Africa Region Division One Qualifier 2025. Zimbabwe have been placed in Group B alongside Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Namibia. It will be interesting to see whether Ndhlovu plays in the clash since she is suspended from bowling.