In a surprising show of solidarity, former Indian cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin has come out in strong support of Pakistan’s emerging spinner Usman Tariq. Tariq has been under fire for his unconventional bowling action, particularly his habit of pausing during the run-up, drawing comparisons to rule changes in football.
The controversy ignited when ex-cricketer Srivatsa Goswami criticized Tariq on social media, likening the spinner’s pause to a now-banned practice in football penalty kicks. ‘Football doesn’t allow players to pause during penalty run-ups anymore. How is this okay? Action fine, but stopping right before delivery? Can’t continue like this,’ Goswami posted on X.
Ashwin responded directly, questioning the fairness of restrictions placed solely on bowlers. ‘Agree football doesn’t permit it. But when batters can switch to reverse sweeps without informing the umpire or bowler after starting from one end, why only restrict bowlers? Bowlers can’t even change bowling arms without notice. Fix that rule first,’ he countered.
Social media backlash followed, prompting Ashwin to clarify his stance in a detailed follow-up. He emphasized that action legality must be verified by the ICC Bowling Action Monitoring Center. ‘There’s a 15-degree elbow rule; on-field umpires can’t judge it accurately without real-time tech. Pausing at the crease is part of his regular action and fully legitimate,’ Ashwin asserted.
Tariq, known for his visible elbow bend and unique run-up, grabbed headlines with a three-wicket haul against the USA, securing Pakistan’s victory. Yet, his performance reignited debates on whether his action will withstand international and T20 league scrutiny. As cricket evolves, Ashwin’s intervention highlights ongoing tensions between innovation and regulation in the sport.