Former India cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreevats Goswami engaged in a social media debate over Usman Tariq’s controversial chucking action with the ball in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.
Usman Tariq, Pakistan’s off-spinner, has lately been in the debate for his controversial bowling action. Tariq, who starred with the ball against the USA in the February 10 match, was called out on the internet because of his alleged chucking action and his pause-and-deliver style run-up.
However, what got netizens heated was a war of words between former Indian cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreevats Goswami. Taking to their official social media handles, Ashwin and Goswami had a heated debate over Tariq’s round-arm technique.
Shreevats Goswami Raises Concerns
Shreevats Goswami, an ex-Bengal and Royal Challengers Bengaluru player, publicly called out Tariq’s action on his social media handle, saying, “Even football doesn’t allow players to pause during a penalty run-up anymore. How is this okay? Action all good, but pause? That too while loading to deliver. This can’t be continued seriously,” Goswami wrote.
Goswami’s remarks were replied to by Ravichandran Ashwin on his social media handle, where he questioned why only bowlers are subjected to tighter restrictions when batters are allowed to play shots like switch hits and reverse sweeps.
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Ashwin vs Goswami Continued Over Tariq
Reacting to Ashwin’s response, Goswami then requested Ashwin to focus on the central issue, that is, Tariq’s action and not a batsman-versus-bowler debate. Goswami suggested that the lack of a fluid action while bowling makes it difficult for batters to pick up his release and length.
“Reverse sweep was first played in 1964 and it’s still debatable ? Ok. We are talking about the “ pause “ here. “ PAUSE “. A batter doesn’t take stance, look away, pause & then reset before the ball is delivered. He/she is absolutely ready for whatever the bowler has to offer. Let’s not make this bowler vs batter. It’s the PAUSE. If 1 sec pause is ok, then 2 is too , then 10 is too. Cricket is a game of continuity. Pause breaks the rhythm of the game & if you look closely. He kind of “bends his arms “ when he bowls the faster one. Hopefully the ICC finds clarity before this becomes the next grey area,” Goswami wrote.
Ashwin weighed in again, stating that it is virtually impossible for on-field umpires to judge Tariq’s action and that there should be proper tests at the ICC’s bowling action testing center to verify the legitimacy of Usman Tariq’s action.
Previous Allegations and ICC Regulations
Earlier, Usman Tariq was also called out by Cameron Green for his alleged chucking action, and Tariq himself admitted that his action is due to his biological build and not to gain any unfair advantage.
Nevertheless, if a bowler is found to have an illegal action, they are suspended from bowling in international cricket as per ICC regulations. With Usman Tariq’s action yet to be verified, a call-up to the ICC’s official testing centers might be on the cards soon.
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