Usman Tariq is Pakistan’s deadly spinner and has become the talk of the town ahead of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo.
Known for his peculiar bowling action, Tariq has not only plagued the minds of the Indian players, but he also created debates among fans and cricket experts alike.
A Spinner with a Difference
Tariq’s bowling is one of its kind. His deliveries are confusing for the batsmen due to his unpredictable spin, bounce and flight.
Even top-order players find it hard to read the way he is delivering the ball and end up mistiming shots that seem simple. This unpredictability makes him a nightmare to the batsmen.
Controversy Surrounding his Bowling Action
Indian media and fans have questioned the bowling action of Tariq multiple times calling it as “illegal.”
Some of his critics concentrate on his pause before delivering the ball as a loophole. However, former cricketer Ravi Chandran Ashwin of India and the international umpire Anil Choudhary have all cleared him.
Choudhary explained on a digital show that Tariq’s pause is his routine. As long as he keeps the same action for every ball, he is in no trouble. Issues would only occur if he changes his routine in the middle of a game.
ICC Approval and Legality
Usman Tariq’s bowling is well within the rules as the ICC allows up to 15 degrees of the elbow to be extended.
Every ball he is delivering is within these limits. He is successful by force of ability rather than rule-breaking, and often even the very experienced players are fooled by his clever variations.
Impact on Indian Team
In his T20 World Cup appearance, Tariq dismantled American batsmen, with apparent sixes ending in catches inside the boundary.
It seems Indian batsmen have been left confused when watching his deliveries being unable to predict spin or bounce. Social media and sports circles in India are abuzz over the way to beat him.
Expert Verdict
Both Ashwin and Choudhary agree: The bowling action that Tariq performed is absolutely legal.
Batsmen can raise concerns only if he makes a change in his course of routine.
Also read: Ashwin defends Usman Tariq amid bowling action criticism
