Former international Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary has confirmed that Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has a legal bowling action, addressing renewed allegations of chucking that surfaced during recent international matches.
In a video shared on social media, Chaudhary said he reviewed footage of Tariq’s bowling and found no violation of the laws. He explained that while Tariq’s action appears unusual, it remains consistent and within the limits permitted by cricket regulations. According to Chaudhary, the spinner uses a side-arm action with a brief pause before release and delivers all variations using the same motion.
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Chaudhary added that there is no visible bending or straightening of the arm beyond the allowable limit, noting that an action can only be deemed illegal if the elbow extends more than 15 degrees during the delivery stride, as defined under ICC regulations.
Tariq’s bowling style has often been described as unorthodox. He employs a slinging motion to bowl off-breaks, with a noticeable bend in his arm, which has frequently drawn scrutiny despite previous clearances.
The debate over his action resurfaced during the second T20I between Pakistan and Australia, when Australian all-rounder Cameron Green reacted in frustration after being dismissed by Tariq and alleged that the spinner was chucking. A clip from the incident circulated widely online, reigniting discussion around Tariq’s technique.
Tariq has previously been reported twice for a suspect bowling action while playing for 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 without any modification to his action.
Despite those clearances, questions around his bowling resurfaced again after Pakistan’s victory over South Africa in November. During last month’s ILT20, Tariq also responded publicly after England batter Tom Banton raised concerns, stating that repeated allegations were based on misunderstanding and ignoring the results of official testing.
Earlier, former Australian batter Usman Khawaja also voiced support for Tariq, urging fans and players to avoid jumping to conclusions. He highlighted the stigma associated with being labelled a “chucker” and emphasized that Tariq had been cleared multiple times under official procedures.
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