Sri Lanka: 85 school bowlers with suspect action

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka has identified 85 school cricketers bowling with suspected illegal actions in its campaign to clean up the cradle of the sport in the country.

The bowlers include 60 spinners and 25 seamers, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement on Thursday.

Sri Lanka boasts of a strong schools cricket structure, with many players entering the national team direct from schools, with little or no first-class experience.

The campaign to clean up bowling comes amid tough action by the International Cricket Council to eliminate illegal bowling on the international stage.

Offspinners suspended in recent months include Pakistan star Saeed Ajmal, Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake, New Zealand's Kane Williamson, Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya, and Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi.