Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months following an independent assessment of his action, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced.

The legality of the 25-year-old’s action came under scrutiny by match officials in the first Test against New Zealand in Galle from August 14-18.

He subsequently underwent the independent assessment in Chennai on August 29, which confirmed that he had been bowling with an illegal action.

The twirler was originally suspended from bowling in December 2018 but was allowed to resume bowling in February 2019 following remedial work and a further assessment on his bowling action.

As this is was Dananjaya’s second report within a two-year period, he is automatically suspended from bowling in international cricket for a year, after which the unorthodox spinner can approach the ICC for a reassessment.

The Sri Lanka international has featured in six Test matches, claiming 33 wickets at 24.81.