Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite has condemned false statements attributed to him regarding Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq's bowling action, which circulated widely on social media through Indian-origin accounts.

 

A fabricated quote linked to Brathwaite's name spread across social media platforms, claiming the former cricketer passed the controversial statement while commentating during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 match between England and West Indies. 

 

The fake statement suggested Brathwaite advised India to bat first in their upcoming fixture against Pakistan on February 15 and instructed them to retaliate if Tariq "chucks."

 

"India should bat first on 15th and see what Usman Tariq does. If he chucks, don't step back. Tell your guns to chuck too. Give what you get. As simple as that," an account with the username RCB_HIvv3 quoted Brathwaite as saying.

 

The post caught Brathwaite's attention, prompting an immediate response from the commentator who firmly denied making any such statement.

 

"I'll be reporting this. Where are the quotes? When did you say this?" Brathwaite questioned in his reply.

 

The former West Indies captain, clearly frustrated by the orchestrated misinformation campaign, issued a stern warning to the user against deleting the false post. The post has since been removed from the platform.

 

"This is disingenuous, false and nasty of you," Brathwaite wrote, calling out the user directly.

 

Taking the matter further, Brathwaite tagged Twitter owner Elon Musk, demanding action against accounts spreading fabricated quotes. 

 

"Your platform needs to start demonetizing people that post fake quotes and attribute them to public figures. They can post what they want, get called out and take down the post. 296k people have seen this and formed an opinion of a baseless claim," he stated.

 

Many Indians including some so-called cricket analysts, have been spreading propaganda targeting Usman Tariq, who has represented Pakistan in four T20 Internationals. The spinner has faced persistent scrutiny over his bowling action despite repeatedly clearing official assessments and explainations about his rare medical condition.

 

Tariq has been reported for a suspect bowling action twice during his early career but received clearance on both occasions. Last year, an ICC-accredited biomechanics lab gave him approval after examining 24 deliveries.

 

According to cricket's laws, a bowler's arm can bend up to a maximum of 15 degrees while bowling. Tariq, known for his slingy action, maintains his delivery falls well within these limits due to the unique structure of his elbow.

 

"There are two corners on my elbow which make it hard for me to straighten fully," Tariq explained previously.

 

"As you can see from history, whenever spinners faced allegations of chucking, they went to the lab, tried to modify their action, and worked on the correct degree of flexion. That sometimes confuses spectators. I have undergone two official tests in Pakistan, and my action was cleared. Unlike others, I didn't have to change anything. I was confident because I know I am not throwing," the spinner stated.

 

The false narrative surrounding Tariq's bowling action appears to intensify ahead of major Pakistan-India encounter on February 15, with coordinated social media campaigns attempting to undermine his legitimacy as a bowler.