pakistan spinner Osman Tariq He once again found himself at the center of the ‘illegal action’ debate during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against the United States of America (USA). However, the controversies did not diminish his influence with the ball.
Tariq produced a match-deciding performance, taking three important wickets – Milind Kumar, Harmeet Singh and Mohammad Mohsin – while conceding just 27 runs in his four overs. His disciplined off-spin proved decisive Pakistan successfully defended the total score of 190Victory confirmed by 32 runs.
At a time when the pressure was mounting in the middle overs, Tariq’s spell halted USA’s chase and shifted the momentum firmly in Pakistan’s favour.
Controversy over Usman Tariq’s bowling action
Despite his impressive statistics, attention immediately turned to Tariq’s unorthodox bowling style. The spinner was previously reported twice during the Pakistan Super League (PSL), although he was acquitted on both occasions after testing.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup, during Pakistan’s home series against Australia, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was seen angrily copying Tariq’s action after being dismissed. Green later apologized upon reviewing the replays and admitted that his reaction was wrong.
Tariq has consistently maintained that his action complied with ICC rules, providing medical and technical explanations to clear up doubts.
Medical explanation behind Tariq’s action
Medically speaking, Tariq reportedly has double elbows, which prevents him from fully straightening his arm. This physical characteristic gives his bowling action a unique appearance, often leading to misinterpretation.
Such cases have been seen in the history of cricket. Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan had a congenital deformity that made it difficult to straighten his bowling arm, leading to years of controversy before he was cured.
The introduction of the 15-degree flexion rule, implemented during the tenure of former ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya, provided clear guidelines and allowed bowlers with natural hyperextension to continue without penalty, provided they remained within the permissible limits.
Tariq’s bowling action consists of a short, zigzag run-up followed by a brief pause before the delivery. While the pause and sidearm release appear unusual, they are consistent in all deliveries. Critics argue that such variations can benefit the bowler by disrupting the batsman’s rhythm.
However, under ICC rules, consistency and extension of the arm are the major factors in determining legality – not aesthetics.
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Umpire Anil Chaudhary’s opinion on Tariq’s action
Amid the fresh scrutiny, respected Indian umpire Anil Choudhary offered a clear and conclusive opinion. After reviewing footage of Tariq’s bowling, Choudhary said the action was completely legal.
He pointed out that although Tariq bowls slightly side-on and stops, there is no visible bending or straightening of the arm beyond the permitted limits. Importantly, he emphasized that the spinner bowled each ball in the same manner, fulfilling the need for consistency.
“In my opinion, their action is fair, and it’s a fair delivery,” Chaudhary said, emphasizing that unusual does not automatically mean illegal.
