Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin defends Usman Tariq amid ‘chucking’ allegations

Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq may have starred with the ball against the USA, but his bowling action has grabbed immense headlines. During Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo, Tariq picked up three wickets to help his team register a 32-run win. However, social media was once again flooded with allegations of chucking.

The controversy revolves around two aspects of Tariq’s action: the visible bend in his arm and a noticeable pause in his run-up before release. While questions over elbow extension have surfaced repeatedly, former India wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami focused on the pause, comparing it to football’s rule that disallows players from stopping during a penalty run-up.

"Even football doesn’t allow players to pause during a penalty run-up anymore. How is this ok? Action - all good. But pause ? That too while loading to deliver. This can’t be continued seriously !" tweeted Goswami on X.

However, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin defended the Pakistan spinner. The veteran agreed with the football comparison but flipped the argument, questioning why restrictions in cricket seem to apply more strictly to bowlers than batters.

"Okay, let me make it as clear as possible. Firstly, the legalities of his action can only be tested at an ICC bowling action testing Centre. Secondly, there is a 15° rule under which a bowler needs to keep his elbow and straighten it  and to judge if a bowler is bowling within that 15° mark by the onfield Umpire is impossible. The only solution to that is having a real time in competition testing tool. The above is a grey area and to accuse someone for utilising the grey area is wrong. Finally, if the pause at the crease is legal or not, and that’s where I believe that it is entirely legal because that is his regular action," he wrote.

He described the issue as a “grey area” and argued that accusing a player of operating within that grey zone is unfair. As for the pause, Ashwin maintained that it is entirely legal because it is part of Tariq’s regular bowling action.

This is not the first time Tariq has faced scrutiny. He was previously reported during the Pakistan Super League but was cleared on both occasions after testing. He has also been officially cleared by the ICC in the past year. Addressing the concerns earlier, Tariq stated that the bend in his arm is natural and linked to a biological condition.