Former Indian cricket umpire Anil Chaudhary has provided clarity on the legality of Pakistani bowler Usman Tariq's distinctive bowling action, stating that batters cannot legitimately pull away as long as the Pakistani spinner maintains his consistent pause.

 

Speaking during an interview after a viral video showed him professionally shutting down speculation regarding Tariq’s action, Chaudhary addressed the controversy surrounding the Pakistani bowler’s mid-delivery pause and explained the conditions under which it would be considered illegal.

 

When asked whether the extended pause violates cricket laws, Chaudhary explained the distinction between routine action and deliberate deception.

 

“Because all his deliveries have the same action and the same pause, it has become his routine action. But if he does something different, increases the pause in a very obvious way, or suddenly bowls without a pause, that would be deception. In that case, the batter should pull away and not receive the ball. Then the umpire will decide whether this is manipulation of his routine action,” Chaudhary said.

 

The umpire confirmed that Tariq's current approach, including his run-up, did not violate any laws of the game.

 

He also revealed that broadcasters measured Tariq's pause at just slightly over one second. “If he pauses for around 2.5 to 3 seconds, then umpires could raise an objection,” Chaudhary noted, emphasising that as long as Tariq maintained his current rhythm, everything remained within the rules. 

 

“For now, as long as he is pausing the same way he currently does, the matter is clear and everything is fine. Nothing looks suspicious yet. If the batter pulls out again and again, then the umpires will intervene and ask the batter to not do it otherwise they would themselves be booked for wasting time.”

 

It may be noted that the umpire’s comments appear to counter an earlier suggestion by former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who proposed that batters could exploit the pause by pulling away.

 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin clarified that Tariq’s pause was legal since it formed part of his established bowling action.

 

However, he then suggested a controversial tactic for batters to employ against the Pakistani spinner.

 

“There is one thing I want to see… if dares to do it… if Tariq pauses before delivery, the batter has the right to move away. The batter can say, ‘I don't know when the ball is coming, so I moved away’,” Ashwin said.

 

He predicted this would create significant pressure on both Tariq and the umpires.

 

“That will be an interesting case and a huge headache for the umpire. I’m not against anyone. If I was there, I would have done it. I would have done everything that is within the laws of the game,” he added.

 

The former Indian spinner suggested that such tactics could force Tariq to alter his action mid-match. “If the batter starts withdrawing, imagine the pressure on Tariq. He might have to alter his action in the middle of the game. Pakistan’s trump card might turn out to be nothing,” Ashwin added.

 

“But I doubt any of the Indian batters have it in them to pull it off. I’m not sure,” he concluded.