Key points
- False post targeted Usman Tariq’s action
- Ex-all-rounder vows to report account
- Tariq cleared twice after official testing
KARACHI: Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite has rejected a fabricated social media post that falsely attributed inflammatory remarks to him regarding Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq’s bowling action.
A statement circulating online claimed that Brathwaite, while commentating during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixture between England and West Indies, had advised India to bat first against Pakistan on February 15 and suggested retaliation if Tariq was suspected of chucking.
The post, shared by an X account under the username RCB_HIvv3, quoted Brathwaite as saying:
“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 simple as that.”
Bowling action
Brathwaite responded publicly, dismissing the statement as false and questioning its authenticity.
In a separate post, he criticised the account responsible and warned against deleting the content, which has since been removed from the platform.
“This is disingenuous, false and nasty of you,” Brathwaite added.
I’ll be reporting this
Where are the quotes ?
When did u say this ?This is disingenuous, false and nasty of you
Don’t delete the tweet either. https://t.co/JuMvSRLc8V
— Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26) February 12, 2026
Usman Tariq, who has featured in four T20 internationals for Pakistan, has faced scrutiny over his bowling action since his international debut. He has twice been reported for a suspect action but was subsequently cleared on both occasions after undergoing official testing, including assessments at an ICC-accredited biomechanics laboratory.
Under cricket regulations, a bowler’s arm is permitted to bend up to 15 degrees. Tariq maintains that his action falls within this limit, attributing its appearance to the natural structure of his elbow.
“There are two corners on my elbow which make it hard for me to straighten fully,” Tariq explained.
“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.”
