Pakistan’s young fast bowler Zaman Khan came into limelight when David Warner complained about his unusual slingshot-style bowling action during the Big Bash League 2025-26 (BBL 2025-26) between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder at the Gabba in Brisbane on January 10.
David Warner accuses Fakhar Zaman of illegal bowling action in heated BBL incident
The Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder Big Bash League 2025-26 match was surrounded by a major controversy as David Warner accused Fakhar Zaman of ‘chucking’.
During Zaman’s spell, the Sydney Thunder captain struggled to read the balls and looked clearly frustrated at the crease.
Also read: David Warner in danger of being out of BBL after latest injury!
Warner felt that the ball was coming off very low and believed that the action did not look natural. Even the left-handed batsman raised questions about whether the ball was being bowled fairly.
Chucking incident: what happened?
The incident came to light after the 14th over of Sydney Thunder’s innings against Brisbane Heat at the Gabba. Warner’s worries grew when Zaman bowled several slow balls after wides off Sam Billings in the same over. However, the Pakistani bowler gave away 29 runs in that 14th over.
After Billings took a run on the final ball of the over, the situation deteriorated when Warner, who was looking frustrated, stopped playing and approached the on-field umpire, pointing to his elbow and apparently questioning the legality of Zaman’s arm action.
Warner was heard saying to the umpire, “He’s bowling like a four-year-old. It stays very low. It looks like he’s bowling the ball.”
“Like four years of bowling. It stays pretty low.”
David Warner on Zaman Khan’s action. #bbl15 pic.twitter.com/dv9Bzw4G5v
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) 10 January 2026
What is ‘Chucking’? ICC rules explained
The term “chukking” refers to an illegal bowling action where a bowler bends the ball beyond acceptable limits when releasing it and then straightens the elbow.
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ICC’s 15-degree rule: This rule allows the bowler’s elbow to straighten up to 15 degrees while bowling. Furthermore, the action is considered illegal.
However, only the on-field umpire or match referee can officially report a suspect action, after which a biomechanical assessment is initiated, and the bowler is suspended until he modifies his action and re-evaluates if the action is found to be illegal.
David Warner’s run out sealed Thunder’s fate
Billings went for a big slog-sweep shot off Matt Renshaw, but couldn’t hit it cleanly. The ball went high in the air towards deep midwicket. Marnus Labuschagne was standing there and easily got under the ball, but he dropped the catch. Even after the fall, the Heat responded immediately.
Nathan McSweeney picked up the ball and threw it straight at the stumps. Warner tried to come back for a second run, but Billings suddenly changed his mind and sent him back. David Warner was far away from the crease and the throw hit the stumps perfectly.
Warner was run out after scoring 82 runs in 56 balls with the help of eight fours and three sixes. His innings helped Sydney Thunder score 180/6 on the board and later, thanks to a brilliant inning of 78 runs from captain Usman Khawaja, Brisbane Heat easily achieved the target in 16.2 overs.