Sri Lankan bowler attempts to copy Usman Tariq’s action; gets immediately called out by umpire – watch The trend of emulating Usman Tariq's unique bowling style is gaining traction among young cricketers, but not without controversy. Tariq's distinctive pause in his delivery has sparked debates, with some accusing him of illegal bowling techniques. His action, which involves a noticeable delay before releasing the ball, has drawn scrutiny, including indirect allegations of chucking from Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. A recent incident during a Sri Lankan college cricket match highlighted the growing fascination with Tariq's technique. Representing Richmond College in a fixture known as the "Lover’s Quarrel," left-arm spinner Nethuja Basitha attempted to replicate Tariq's action. Basitha incorporated a pause into his delivery, along with repeated jumps in his stride, before throwing a full toss. The umpire immediately halted the action, signaling a dead ball. The incident underscores the strict rules governing bowling actions. Under Law 41.1 of the MCC code, umpires have the authority to call a dead ball if a bowler is deemed to be deliberately attempting to deceive the batter. In this case, the umpire likely interpreted Basitha's pause as an intentional ploy rather than a natural part of his delivery. This contrasts with Tariq's case, where the pause is considered a regular feature of his established action and is therefore permissible. Basitha, who bowled 15 overs for 55 runs and took a wicket, faced immediate consequences for his attempt to mimic Tariq's style. The incident has reignited discussions about the boundaries of legal bowling techniques. Tariq, meanwhile, has been a focal point of attention ahead of the T20 World Cup.#t20_world_cup #usman_tariq #cameron_green #richmond_college #lover_s_quarrel
Pakistan's Usman Tariq has sparked global interest with his unconventional bowling action, which has led to both admiration and controversy. The spinner's unique side-arm delivery, characterized by a deliberate pause before releasing the ball, has made him a standout performer in international cricket. Despite initial doubts about the legality of his action, Tariq's technique has been officially cleared by the International Cricket Council, allowing him to continue competing at the highest level. Tariq's distinctive style has influenced other spinners, with some adopting similar techniques. A notable example occurred during a school cricket match in Sri Lanka, where a left-arm spinner named Nethuja Bashitha attempted to replicate Tariq's action. However, the umpire ruled the delivery a "dead ball" due to the delayed release, highlighting the challenges of executing such a technique in real match conditions. This incident underscores the growing fascination with Tariq's approach, even as it raises questions about its practicality. The 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, provided a stage for Tariq to showcase his skills. Despite Pakistan's early exit from the tournament after the Super Eight stage, Tariq performed admirably, claiming 10 wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 7.23. His contributions were pivotal in keeping Pakistan competitive, though the team ultimately fell short of advancing further. Tariq's journey to developing his unique action began in domestic cricket, where he experimented with bowling using a tennis ball to refine his technique. He described his method as a deliberate effort to "break the fractions" of his bowling motion, emphasizing that the timing and rhythm of his delivery remain intact despite the slowed execution.#pakistan #international_cricket_council #sri_lanka #usman_tariq #2026_icc_men_s_t20_world_cup
Dead ball! Umpire calls Sri Lankan spinner's action illegal after copying Usman Tariq's controversial bowling technique A Sri Lankan spinner faced immediate action from an umpire during a school cricket match after attempting to replicate the bowling action of Pakistan’s Usman Tariq, which has sparked widespread debate in cricket circles. The incident occurred during the 121st edition of a traditional inter-school fixture, a longstanding event in Sri Lanka. The bowler, representing Richmond College, paused in his run-up and added exaggerated jumps before delivering a full toss, prompting the umpire to declare the ball dead. Under the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laws, specifically Clause 41.4, an umpire has the authority to call a dead ball if they suspect a deliberate attempt to distract a batter. The rule states that if such an act is observed, the umpire must immediately signal the dead ball and inform the other umpire of the reason. In this case, the umpire opted for a warning rather than imposing a penalty of five runs, which could have been awarded under the law. The umpire’s decision was based on the fact that the pause in the Sri Lankan bowler’s action was not part of his regular technique, suggesting an intentional effort to disrupt the batter. In contrast, Tariq’s pause has been deemed a natural part of his bowling action, even though it has drawn scrutiny for its distinctiveness. Tariq’s method, which involves a visible halt before releasing the ball, has been a topic of discussion since the T20 World Cup, where he performed inconsistently, with figures of 1/24 against India and 4/16 against Namibia. The incident highlights the ongoing debate surrounding bowling actions in cricket, particularly the line between legal technique and potential illegal deliveries.#t20_world_cup #usman_tariq #mcc #richmond_college #school_cricket_match
Rishad Hossain goes unsold at The Hundred auction Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain failed to secure a franchise in the inaugural men’s auction of The Hundred, despite being listed with a base price of £75,000 (Tk1.12 crore). The player, who was grouped in the spin-bowling category alongside Jafer Chohan, Usman Tariq, and Akeal Hosein, did not attract any bids when his name was brought to the bidding block. Meanwhile, Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq generated significant interest and was eventually signed by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000, surpassing his base price of £100,000. Another spinner, Abrar Ahmed, was acquired by Sunrisers Leeds, the sister franchise of the IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad, for £190,000. This marked one of the most expensive deals among overseas spinners. The auction’s standout moment came when England Lions all-rounder James Coles made history by being signed by London Spirit for £390,000, becoming the most expensive player in the men’s Hundred auction. Earlier in the bidding process, Pakistan stars Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan also went under the hammer but did not receive any offers. Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, however, secured a lucrative deal with Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000. Other notable players who missed out included Pakistan opener Saim Ayub and Australian pacer Ben Dwarshuis. In the fast-bowling category, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult was quickly signed by MI London for £100,000 after attracting a single bid. The auction highlighted the competitive nature of the market, with several high-profile players either securing deals or facing challenges in finding a franchise. The results underscored the varying levels of interest across different categories and the strategic decisions made by the franchises.#the_hundred #birmingham_phoenix #rishad_hossain #jafer_chohan #usman_tariq
