ISLAMABAD: Quetta Gladiators spinner Usman Tariq, currently under scrutiny for his suspect bowling action in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10, has claimed that his arm contains “two elbows” — a rare biological condition which, he says, explains the natural bend in his action.
Usman Tariq has found himself in the spotlight for his unconventional bowling action, flagged by umpires during both the 2024 and 2025 Pakistan Super League seasons.
Tariq explained the unusual mechanics of his delivery.
His unique, baseball-inspired style caught the attention of umpires Asif Yaqoob and Richard Illingworth in the 2024 season.
Following that, he made his mark in both List A and first-class cricket. However, in 2025, he faced scrutiny once again, this time from Ahsan Raza and Chris Brown.
Despite being reported two times, Tariq remains eligible to play under PSL rules, as long as his action isn’t called into question again during the same season.
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Usman Tariq shed light on the origins of his atypical bowling technique: “My action is one of a kind because my body dimensions are also unique.
My physical structure doesn’t resemble that of a normal person.” He further elaborated, “I do have two elbows in my arm, which gives it a natural bend. I’ve had this tested, and the results were clear.”
“People often say, ‘Look, his arm is bent or something is off,’” Tariq shared. “But this bend is a biological issue .”
So far, Tariq has claimed five wickets in his seven PSL outings, boasting an economy rate of 7.27. In first-class cricket, he has taken eight wickets in just two matches at an average of 26.25, and he mirrors that success with a similar tally in three List A games at an impressive 19.37.
