Former Indian Umpire Confirms Usman Tariq’s Bowling Action is Legal

Former Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary has backed Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq amid ongoing chucking allegations, saying in a video shared on social media that the bowler’s action is legal.

Chaudhary said he recently reviewed footage of Tariq’s bowling and found nothing illegal. He explained that Tariq uses a side-arm action, pauses briefly before delivery, and has a style that looks different from most bowlers.

According to Chaudhary, Tariq delivers all balls with the same action and shows no visible bending or straightening of the arm beyond what is permitted under the rules.

Tariq’s bowling action is considered unorthodox. He pauses momentarily before releasing the ball and bowls off-breaks using a slinging motion, with a noticeable bend in his arm.

Under ICC regulations, a bowling action is deemed illegal only if the elbow extends more than 15 degrees during the delivery stride, excluding any natural elbow hyperextension.

The controversy resurfaced during the Pakistan vs Australia second T20I, when Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was dismissed by Tariq and later alleged in frustration that the bowler was chucking. A clip from the match circulated widely on social media and reignited debate over Tariq’s action.

Tariq has twice been reported for a suspect bowling action while representing Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. On both occasions, he underwent biomechanical testing at Lahore’s National Cricket Academy and was cleared to continue bowling.

Despite being cleared, scrutiny of Tariq’s action has continued. His bowling was questioned again following Pakistan’s win over South Africa in November.

Speaking during last month’s ILT20, Tariq responded strongly after England batter Tom Banton questioned his action. He said the repeated allegations stem from a lack of understanding and emphasized that he had been cleared without being asked to change his bowling technique.

Earlier, former Australian batter Usman Khawaja also voiced strong support for Tariq. Sharing a video on his Instagram Story, Khawaja urged fans and players to avoid rushing to conclusions.

“There aren’t many things worse than being called a ‘chucker’ in cricket. The stigma is real. The man is just doing his best and has been cleared twice. Let’s have some perspective and understanding and stop jumping to conclusions,” Khawaja said.