Quetta Gladiators spinner Usman Tariq was reported for a suspect bowling action in both the 2024 and 2025 editions of the PSL. Tariq recently explained the reasons behind his action.
Tariq's unusual baseball-style action was reported by umpires Asif Yaqoob and Richard Illingworth during PSL 2024. He later played in the same edition and has, since then, debuted in both List A and first-class cricket. At the 2025 edition, he has been reported again, this time by Ahsan Raza and Chris Brown.
Despite being reported twice, Tariq is – as per the PSL Playing Conditions – as long as his action does not get reported again over the course of the same season.
Speaking to MYK Sports, Tariq explained his unusual bowling action: “Unique action is liye hain kyun ki meri body dimensions bhi unique hain. Mere jo body frame hain, woh common person ki tarah nahin hain.” [My action is unique because my body dimensions are unique. My body frame is not like the common person’s].
“I do have two elbows in my arm,” elaborated Tariq. “To yeh natural hain, jis ke wajah se meri do haathon mein bend hain. Woh test hua, aur mera test clear bhi aaya. [My arm bends naturally. I have got this tested and cleared].
“Sabko lagta hain, ‘yaar, iska haat zara tedha wagairah jo kuchh bhi aa raha hain’” [everyone feels I bend my arms and all that], added Tariq. “Bended arm hain, to actually biological issue hain.” [My bent arm is a biological issue].
So far, Tariq has picked five wickets from his seven PSL games at an economy rate of 7.27. In first-class cricket, he has eight wickets from two matches at 26.25, and a similar tally from three List A games at 19.37.
