‘I have two elbows in my arm’, says Usman Tariq:Pakistan spinner’s old videos resurface amid ‘chucking’ debate | WATCH

The ‘chucking debate’ has caused quite a stir in the cricket world, with Usman Tariq being the centre of attention. The Pakistan bowler’s unorthodox action has caught the eye of many and while have some have backed it, many others have accused the spinner of ‘chucking.’ The controversy has surfaced days before the marquee India vs Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup, a match which has already made the news for Pakistan taking a U-turn on their boycott call. The match is set to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on 15 February. Old videos resurface of Usman Tariq explaining his unorthodox bowling action In an old video from 2025, the Pakistan bowler was seen explaining his action, saying that he has two elbows in his right arm. “I have a unique action because my body dimension is unique. My body frame is not like that of a common person. I do have two elbows in my arm,” he was seen saying in that old interview. He further went on to explain that both his arms are bent, as a result and that his bowling action was tested and cleared as well. In another video, posted by the ILT20 franchise Desert Vipers a month ago, Tariq was seen showing his ‘two elbows’ in his right arm. “These two corners make my hand really hard to stretch (straighten) fully. I can’t straighten my hand. It will remain bent, which creates confusion for spectators. I have given two tests in Pakistan labs and my action was cleared, ” he said in the video. While addressing critics who accused him of throwing the ball, the 28-year-old said, “I am confident about my action because I am not throwing. Some of them are also talking about the pause. Every single person who is commenting on these things should study cricket first and then make these allegations.” Cricket fraternity engage in ‘chucking’ debate over Usman Tariq’s action Former cricketer Shreevats Goswami was not too happy with Tariq pausing before delivering the ball. “How is this ok? Action – all good. But pause ? That too while loading to deliver. This can’t be continued seriously!” he wrote on X while sharing a video of Tariq bowling in the Pakistan vs USA match, where he took three wickets. Former Indian cricketer Ravi Ashwin stepped out in support of the Pakistan bowler, stating that the only way to check if Tariq’s action follows the 15° rule is by having a real-time competition testing tool. “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,” Ashwin wrote in a post on X. Ex-cricketer Priyank Panchal shared that there should not be any controversy over his pause, which he says, is an ‘old tactic’ even used in domestic cricket. Cricket-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra also backed Tariq in a video on his official X account. After a clip of Australian all-rounder Green showing a ‘chucking’ gesture after being dismissed by Tariq in a Pakistan vs Australia T20I, Usman Khawaja stepped into the debate. “There aren’t many things worse than being called a ‘chucker’ in cricket. The stigma is real. The man is just doing his best and been cleared twice. Let’s have some perspective and understanding and stop jumping to conclusions,” he wrote in an Instagram story.