Cameron Green has appeared to have apologised to Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq after accusing him of chucking during the second T20 in Lahore, as Usman Khawaja publicly defended the bowler amid growing scrutiny of his action.
Pakistan sealed a dominant 90 run win at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday after dismissing Australia for 108 in 15.4 overs, with all ten wickets falling to spin. It was Australia’s heaviest T20I defeat in 21 years until the 111 run loss in the final game on Sunday.
The incident occurred during the 11th over of Australia’s chase when Green miscued a wide delivery from Tariq and was caught at point for 35, leaving his side six for 76. As he returned to the dugout, Green made a baseball style throwing motion with his arm, a gesture widely interpreted as an accusation of an illegal bowling action.
Tariq, playing just his third T20I, finished with figures of two for 16 from 2.4 overs and also dismissed Matthew Kuhnemann. There is no indication that the Australian team or match officials lodged a formal complaint regarding the 30 year old’s action.
On Sunday morning, Tariq appeared to mock Green by posting a video of a crying child to Instagram with the caption, “After getting out,” alongside a laughing emoji. The following day, he shared another post reading, “Apology accepted,” suggesting Green had privately reached out.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha criticised Green’s conduct during his post match press conference on Sunday, saying: “It’s not his job, it’s the responsibility of the match referee and the umpires.”
Khawaja also weighed in on Monday, urging restraint from fans and commentators in an Instagram story.
“There aren’t many things worse than being called a chucker in cricket,” he said in the post.
“The stigma is real. The man is just doing his best and been cleared twice.
“Let’s have some perspective and understanding and stop jumping to conclusions.”
Tariq’s bowling action is unconventional. After pausing at the point of delivery and coming close to a complete halt, he releases the ball with a slinging motion and a visible bend in his arm. Since making his professional debut in 2023, he has featured in several domestic T20 leagues including the Caribbean Premier League and the UAE’s ILT20. At international level, he has taken eight T20I wickets at an average of 7.50 with an economy rate of 5.62.
Under ICC regulations, a bowling action is deemed illegal if the elbow straightens by more than 15 degrees during the delivery stride, measured from the point the arm reaches horizontal until release. Any natural hyperextension is excluded from the assessment.
Tariq has twice been reported for a suspected illegal action while playing for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League in 2024 and 2025. The first report came from umpires Asif Yaqoob and Richard Illingworth, while the second involved Ahsan Raza and Chris Brown.
On both occasions, Tariq underwent biomechanical testing at the ICC accredited Lahore National Cricket Academy and was cleared to continue bowling.
“I do have two elbows in my arm. My arm bends naturally,” he told MYK Sports.
“I have got this tested and cleared. Everyone feels I bend my arms and all that. My bent arm is a biological issue.”
Despite those clearances, questions around his action have persisted. It again drew attention after Pakistan’s four wicket win over South Africa in November, before Tariq was named player of the match later that month for career best figures of four for 18 against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi, including a hat trick.
Speaking to The National during last month’s ILT20, Tariq responded to renewed allegations following comments from England batter Tom Banton.
“There are two corners on my (elbow) which makes it hard for me to straighten,” he said.
“That makes confusion for the spectators. I have given two tests at labs in Pakistan. My action was cleared.
“As you can see from before, in history, when any spinner had allegations (of chucking) against them, they went to the lab. They tried to change their action and develop the right degrees.
“When I went for the test, within one week, it was cleared. I didn’t get the answer that you have to change your action, or improve the degrees. I was confident about my action because I know that I am not throwing.
“I would love to give a message on this platform that every single person who is commenting on these things, they should study first about cricket, then they should go for the allegations.
“If you don’t have knowledge about cricket and you are just commenting or sharing your thoughts, then illiteracy can kill knowledge.
“It is better to have knowledge, then after you can comment on anyone.”