Umpires tell ailing Kumble he could not bowl

Chittagong : Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who was suffering from fever, fielded for only one over and did not bowl at all on the fifth day of the drawn Test against Bangladesh here Tuesday after being told that he could not do so as per the rules.

Umpires Daryl Harper of Australia and Billy Doctrove told Kumble before the start of the fifth day's play that since he had not been on the field for about six and half hours he could not bowl.

Kumble, who remained in his hotel room on the entire fourth day's play Monday, then remained on the field for one over in Bangladesh's second innings before going out.

Harper said that he and his colleague had explained to the 36-year-old spinner about the rule that prohibits him from bowling following the long absence from the field.

"When we saw Kumble warning up before play today we told him that he would not be able to bowl because he had been out from the field for about six and half hours," Harper told IANS after the day's play.

This is probably the first time that Kumble did not bowl a single delivery in a Test match despite being in the team. He scored a solitary run in the first innings before retiring due to the temperature.

Kumble has captured 547 wickets in 113 Tests and 337 in 271 One-day Internationals. He is here with his wife and son.