Pakistan captain Salman Agha on Usman Tariq action made his stance clear after the recent controversy surrounding the spinner’s unusual release during the T20I series against Australia.
The debate erupted in Lahore when Cameron Green appeared to mimic Tariq’s side-arm delivery while walking back to the pavilion, sparking renewed discussion around the Usman Tariq bowling action. While clips circulated widely online, Pakistan’s leadership has firmly dismissed any suggestion of wrongdoing.
“There is no issue with Usman Tariq’s actions. All that is left now is for Usman Tariq to write around his neck, ‘I am clear,’” Agha said in the ICC press conference before the T20 World Cup 2026.
His remarks came amid growing chatter over a supposed Usman Tariq chucking controversy, even though the spinner has previously been cleared through official testing procedures.
For a detailed breakdown of whether his technique complies with regulations, check out: Is Usman Tariq Action Legal?
‘Usman Tariq Has Been Cleared Twice’
Agha emphasized that Tariq’s action has already undergone scrutiny in the past. “I don’t know why issue raised on Usman Tariq’s bowling action. He has been cleared twice by ICC,” he said.
Tariq was reported during the 2024 and 2025 Pakistan Super League seasons but subsequently passed biomechanical assessments conducted at ICC-accredited laboratories. There is no indication of any fresh complaint lodged by match officials following the Lahore T20I.
The renewed focus on the Usman Tariq bowling action appears to stem largely from visual perception rather than regulatory breach. Under ICC guidelines, a bowler’s elbow extension must exceed 15 degrees during delivery to be deemed illegal — a threshold Tariq’s action has previously been found to remain within.
Usman Tariq Could Be Pakistan’s X-Factor
Beyond the debate, Agha reiterated Tariq’s value to the side ahead of the T20 World Cup.
“Usman has no problem with his bowling action and will be an X-factor for Pakistan,” the captain added.
Tariq has featured sparingly at international level but has built a reputation in franchise cricket for his economy rate and ability to disrupt batters’ rhythm. His slingy release and subtle variations make him particularly effective in the middle overs of T20 matches.
With Pakistan finalising combinations ahead of the global tournament, public backing from the captain signals that the team management has full confidence in Tariq despite the surrounding noise.
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