Sri Lankan bowler attempts to copy Usman Tariq’s action; gets immediately called out by umpire – Watch

A Sri Lankan bowler copies Usman Tariq's action, leading to a dead ball. Here's why.

Updated on: Mar 25, 2026, 13:42:33 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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The Usman Tariq fever is catching on among youngsters. While his bowling action is unique and intriguing, it has also, as recent events suggest, become controversial. Tariq’s pause in his bowling action has landed him in troubled waters, including indirect allegations of chucking from Australian all-rounder Cameron Green.

Usman Tariq's action is spreading wildly. (AFP)

Tariq’s action, which features a noticeable pause before the point of release, seems to be spreading rapidly, with a Sri Lankan bowler attempting to replicate it. The only difference? The umpire was having none of it.

The incident took place during a Sri Lankan college cricket fixture between Richmond and Mahinda as part of the ‘Lover’s Quarrel’. Representing Richmond College, left-arm spinner Nethuja Basitha tried to copy Tariq’s action, adding his own twist. Not only did Basitha pause, but he also kept jumping repeatedly in his stride before delivering a full toss. However, the moment the ball left his hand, the umpire signalled a dead ball.

Watch the clip below:

Also Read: Usman Tariq inspired by MS Dhoni's biopic; got selected for Pakistan when busy with ‘wedding’

Here’s why

Under Law 41.1 of the MCC code, an umpire has the authority to call a dead ball if a bowler is deemed to be deliberately attempting to distract or deceive the batter. In this instance, the pause was not a regular feature of Basitha’s action, which likely led the umpire to interpret it as a deliberate ploy. That sets it apart from Tariq’s case, where the pause is an established part of his natural delivery stride and is therefore considered permissible.

Basitha bowled 15 overs for 55 runs and a wicket.

The buzz around Tariq was in full swing ahead of the T20 World Cup, especially for the clash against India. However, the spinner couldn’t make much of an impact, finishing with figures of 1/24. He followed it up with an impressive 4/16 against Namibia and 2/31 versus England, but struggled against Sri Lanka, going wicketless for 43 runs in a game that saw Pakistan knocked out and miss out on a semi-final spot.

Tariq later featured in three matches for Peshawar in the National T20 League, picking up three wickets. The off-spinner is now gearing up for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with the tournament set to resume behind closed doors from Match 27. Tariq represents the Quetta Gladiators in the PSL.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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