Usman Tariq’s bowling action slammed, Ashwin delivers strong reply

Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq became the center of media attention when an Indian cricketer heavily criticized his bowling action in the T20 World Cup against the USA. However, the criticism was short-lived as Ravichandran Ashwin, the spin great of the Indian cricket team, replied in a very crisp manner.

It all started when Indian domestic talent and commentator Shree Vastu Goswami shared Tariq’s actions on social media. In the caption, Goswami wrote that Tariq’s delivery must be stopped immediately, saying that Tariq’s brief stop was like a football player who could not stop before taking a penalty. Goswami questioned how Tariq could stop like that, saying it was possible that it was all okay, but Tariq could not stop during delivery.

Ashwin, known for his cerebral approach to the game of cricket and his expertise with spin bowling, replied to Goswami’s question directly. Ashwin agreed that in football, it is not possible to stop but, as has been repeatedly mentioned, cricket is a different game. Ashwin drew a parallel that a batsman has many options to change grip, reverse sweep, and even change stance without informing the umpire, but a bowler is under restriction if he changes his run-up. Ashwin asked, “Why should the rules be stringent only for bowlers?”

In the follow-up, Ashwin went into more detail about the legal aspects of Tariq’s action. He stated that only the testing centers of the ICC have the authority to adjudicate the legality of the bowling action. He added that the ICC strictly allows an elbow extension of 15 degrees. He concluded that Tariq’s slight pause in the bowling action is clearly allowed.

Yet, the controversy did not diminish Tariq’s brilliance on the field. During the match between Pakistan and the USA that ended up in victory for the former, Tariq gave an impressive performance by claiming three valuable wickets.

However, Ashwin’s response has sparked a wider discussion, highlighting the issue of fairness and cricket law interpretations, emphasizing the point that bowlers should be given the same freedom and respect as the batter gets. Since he has the support of the cricket legend, Ashwin, in his corner, Tariq can remain focused, ensuring he helps his country win at the T20 World Cup.

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