Usman Tariq‘s unconventional bowling action came under the spotlight once again after Australia batter Tim David questioned the legality of a delivery that dismissed him during Birmingham Phoenix‘s victory over Trent Rockets in The Hundred.
David, who had made just two runs, edged a fuller delivery from the Pakistan spinner through to the wicketkeeper before immediately indicating to the umpire that he believed the ball should have been called a no-ball. He also briefly appeared to signal for a review before leaving the field.
The incident quickly became a talking point, with fresh debate emerging across social media over Tariq’s action. While some viewers argued the delivery should have been scrutinised more closely, others felt David’s reaction stemmed from frustration at his dismissal.
Usman Tariq Owns Australians. He Is A Nightmare For Australia. Fraudster Tim David Crying To Umpires And Saying That Usman Tariq Is Chucking And Asking For A No Ball Shows How Much Scared Australian Cricketers Are Of Usman Tariq. Tariq Has A Completely Legal Action pic.twitter.com/wn40gNVYoc
— Aryan Goel 2.0 (@AryanGoelNew) July 25, 2026
Tariq’s action remains under scrutiny
The latest episode is not the first time Tariq’s bowling action has attracted attention on the field.
During the 2024 Pakistan Super League, his action was reported by on-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Richard Illingworth, before being reported again during the 2025 edition of the competition.
Earlier this year, Australia all-rounder Cameron Green also appeared to question Tariq’s action during the second T20I against Pakistan, mimicking a baseball-style throwing motion after being dismissed by the spinner.
Despite those incidents, Tariq has since been cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
What the MCC Laws say
MCC Law 21.2 states: “A ball is fairly delivered in respect of the arm if, once the bowler’s arm has reached the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing, the elbow joint is not straightened partially or completely from that instant until the ball has left the hand. This definition shall not debar a bowler from flexing or rotating the wrist in the delivery swing.”
It adds: “Although it is the primary responsibility of the striker’s end umpire to assess the fairness of a delivery in this respect, there is nothing in this Law to debar the bowler’s end umpire from calling and signalling No ball if he/she considers that the ball has been thrown.”
Debate likely to continue
Although no no-ball was called, David’s reaction once again drew attention to Tariq’s distinctive action, ensuring discussion over the Pakistan spinner’s bowling technique is likely to continue as The Hundred progresses.
