The cricket world has already been split by off-spinner Usman Tariq’s distinctive stop-and-pause side-arm movement, but India great Ravichandran Ashwin publicly backed the new Pakistani recruit.
With an incredible economy rate of fewer than six runs per over, Tariq has claimed 11 wickets in four Twenty20 Internationals. He has taken an incredible 70 wickets in 42 games across all T20s, and he might have an impact on the sluggish Premadasa pitch against raiding Indian batsmen.
Tariq frequently produced with distinctive motion and a noticeable shift in pace without an apparent change in momentum, making USA batters like Milind Kumar look like sitting ducks, with Pakistan using him sparingly.
India’s match against Pakistan in Colombo on Sunday has made Tariq the talk of the cricket world. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen called the break during the loading action unlawful, but Ashwin had a different opinion.
“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,” Ashwin said on his ‘X’ handle.
Ashwin, who is renowned for his keen technical understanding, requested a real-time competition testing tool to determine whether his sidearm motion is inside the allowed 15 degree range specified in the ICC rulebook.
“Secondly, there is a 15 degree 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 on-field 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.”
Although there might be a gray area, Ashwin does not believe that using it illegally is against the law. There is a common belief that Tariq delivers after waiting for the batter to finish pulling the trigger and reach the last point of the stroke. However, Ashwin believed it to be quite lawful.
“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.”
Tariq isn’t a chucker, according to Prasanna Agoram, a former performance analyst for the South African side who has worked with elite spinners like Imran Tahir.
“Technically speaking Tariq is not chucking. His action was already cleared twice in the past. Even if he is called again , his action will come clean. Wish everyone can have a healthy discussion about a very special talent,” Prasanna commented on ‘X’.
https://x.com/prasannalara/status/2021591821655175496?s=20
Aakash Chopra, a former India opener and commentator, had a question, but he didn’t criticize the pause either.
“I feel ‘pause’ is absolutely fine. But I do have a very specific bowling question- if there’s no momentum generated by the run-up, is it possible to increase your pace by 20-25kms on certain deliveries without bending the arm?,” Chopra had a query for Ashwin on ‘X’.
Anil Chaudhary, a former international umpire, believed that Tariq’s action is perfectly acceptable.
“If you look at his action, it is slightly side-on and a bit different, and he bowls with a slight pause. However, since he delivers all his balls in the same manner, and in his arm there is no bending and straightening as per the guidelines, the action is absolutely fine,” Anil posted on his Instagram page following Cameron Green’s outrage over his dismissal during a recent Twenty20 International match between Australia and Pakistan.
“It is different and he bowls with a pause, but he delivers all balls in the same way. In my opinion, his action is fair and this is a fair delivery,” Chaudhary said.
