Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan cricket is surrounded by multiple controversial issues. If one of those controversial things is related to their government’s stance, then the second is the bowling action of the spinner Usman Tariq.
Ahead of Pakistan’s opening match of the tournament, the skipper, Salman Ali Agha, needed to defend the spinner from the critics who called the spinner ‘chucker.’ The Pakistan T20I captain showed his support to Usman Tariq ahead of their first match in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Why Usman Tariq is in a controversial state
Before the elite tournament, Pakistan hosted a T20I bilateral series with Australia. During this series, Tariq’s bowling action caught cricket fans’ eyes. The 28-year-old’s bowling action is visibly a bit different. There are a few bowlers who used to deliver the balls through different bowling actions, which do not violate the cricket norms. But an unusual bowling action does not mean that it is violating cricket norms.
Usman Tariq found himself in the middle of an ‘illegal action’ storm after the third T20I against Australia. The spinner neutralised Australia’s star all-rounder Cameron Green with his spin. Green was visibly not happy with the dismissal and might be double-minded about the bowling action of Tariq. Green’s gesture suggested that Tariq was ‘chucking’ or ‘throwing’ the ball.
Pakistan’s captain commented on the spinner’s bowling action
The Pakistani spinner has the skill to bend the ball in the air, which often leaves the batters puzzled. For Cameron Green, it was the same instance. The ball moved a little bit in the air and tricked the batter successfully. The dismissal of the Aussie all-rounder sparked a widespread debate across social media platforms, questioning whether the bowling action is legal.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 match, Agha said that there is no issue with Tariq’s bowling action; he is all clear to bowl.
“There is no issue with Usman Tariq’s actions. All that is left now is for Usman Tariq to write around his neck, “I am clear”,” Salman Ali Agha said during the pre-match press conference.
Explanation from an umpire as well
A day ago, well-known Indian all-rounder Anil Chaudhary also stated that the bowling action of the Pakistani spinner is not illegal. He said that the bowling action of Usman Tariq is unusual, but there is nothing wrong with it.
“If you look at his action, it is slightly side-on and a bit different, and he bowls with a slight pause. However, since he delivers all his balls in the same manner and in his arm, and there is no bending and straightening as per the guidelines, the action is absolutely fine. It is different, and he bowls with a pause, but he delivers all balls in the same way. In my opinion, his action is fair, and this is a fair delivery,” Anil Chaudhary explained.
The Pakistan cricket team will play their first match of the T20 World Cup 2026 against the Netherlands at the SSC ground in Sri Lanka tomorrow.
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