Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action, the International Cricket Council said.

In an announcement that will shock Indian cricket, Harbhajan has been reported for concerns over his "doosra" delivery which spins away from the right-handed batsmen. Sri Lankan star Muttiah Muralitharan has similar problems with the same delivery.

The ICC said the report was made by the on-field umpires, Aleem Dar and Mark Benson, TV umpire Mahbubur Rahman and match referee Chris Broad after watching Harbhajan's action during the recent second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

"Having closely reviewed the action Harbhajan Singh employs during this delivery, the match officials decided to report the bowler to the ICC and, in line with the protocol, notified the India team management of this course of action," said ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed.

"This issue now comes under the ICCs bowling review regulations which stipulate that, over the next six weeks, an expert biomechanist from the ICC's approved list should be appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to work with the bowler to clearly identify and address any flaws that may occur during the delivery action."

Harbhajan is the sixth player reported to the ICC during 2004 under its revised process to deal with potentially flawed actions.

Muralitharan, Pakistan's Shabbir Ahmed, Blessing Mahwire of Zimbabwe and Abdur Razzaq (Bangladesh) have all had their actions reviewed and undergone remedial work to satisfy the ICC's panel.

A report on the action of Pakistan's Shoaib Malik is due to be received by the ICC later this week.

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