Pakistan off-spinner Usman Tariq does not look like a regular bowler. His round-arm sling slow run-up and strange release make batters stop and stare while they doubt what they just saw. His bowling tests the batter’s eyes while it tests the patience of those who keep replaying his action to try to spot something wrong. Australia all-rounder Cameron Green was one of the latest batters to fall into that trap. During a recent T20I Green was dismissed by Usman and walked back clearly unhappy. He was seen in anger with Usman’s bowling action because he believed the bowler had crossed the legal 15-degree elbow bend limit. Green watched the replays later to realize he had made a mistake and he then apologized to Usman. Even then Green was not the last batter who walked back with doubts in his mind. Usman Tari - A bowler who cannot straighten his arm Usman’s action has confused umpires as much as batters. During the Pakistan Super League PSL he was reported twice for a suspect action. Both times he was tested and cleared. The endless questioning about his actions has made Usman reach his limit of explaining himself. I have two elbows in my arm My arm bends naturally I have got this tested and cleared Everybody thinks I bend my arms and all that My bent arm is a biological issue Usman explained to MYK channel. Usman has double-jointed elbows according to medical definition. The condition prevents him from straightening his arms completely at will. The condition has existed with him since birth. Cricket has seen this before Muttiah Muralitharan who holds the record for most Test wickets had a birth defect which prevented him from straightening his bowling arm. He faced years of checks criticism and pressure but was eventually cleared. Shoaib Akhtar had extremely loose joints which doctors often described as noodle arms while Jasprit Bumrah had an elbow condition that caused his elbow to hyper-extend which allowed him to throw the ball closer to the batter. These traits exist in people just as height and wrist flexibility exist. The features appear unusual but they comply with legal standards. Also Read | Explained: What Happens if India and Pakistan Reach T20 World Cup 2026 Final? Cameron Green and the moment that sparked fresh debate Green’s reaction brought Usman back into the spotlight. The Australian all-rounder believed the action became unfair during the moment. People experience that feeling whenever they confront something which they do not recognize. Usman’s bowling forces batters to adjust their eyes in an unusual way. His release point is wide almost near the umpire’s line. Batters must shift their focus to track the ball which creates doubt and discomfort. After reviewing the footage Green accepted that his reaction was wrong and apologised. The incident showed how suspicion follows Usman everywhere he goes to bowl. The truth is that Usman has been cleared before and his action remains legal until the laws change. Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan and rare bowling gifts Usman delivers his bowling action through a slow and strange style which creates a hypnotic effect. His run-up is extremely short and almost feels like a stagger. He tosses the ball from his left hand to his right once like Shane Warne. His steps zigzag behind the umpire and he pauses for a long moment before delivering the ball. His right arm comes around in a wide arc similar to Lasith Malinga but much slower. The ball leaves his hand at around 75–80 kph. The format requires rapid play but this speed limitation causes problems for players. The ball usually drifts away from right-handers and then spins just enough after pitching. Usman achieves stumpings because of this bowling pattern he follows. He uses arm-ball and carrom ball while he throws the back-of-the-hand wrong’un occasionally. He changes his pitching speed and distances with smart moves which make it difficult for others to anticipate his actions. Pakistan has used him carefully so far. He has claimed meight wickets in three games while maintaining a 7.50 average and 5.62 economy rate. Usman did not plan to become a spinner because he wanted to bowl fast. His tennis-ball match injury in Nowshera caused him to start bowling off-breaks which led to multiple wickets for him. His coach encouraged him to continue with spin and that moment changed his path. He experienced a life crisis which made him stop playing cricket. His job as a purchase coordinator at a real estate company in Dubai led him to move there. He watched MS Dhoni The Untold Story which made him regain his passion for cricket. He stopped working to return home and play cricket again. The PSL scouts found him in 2023 which led to his entry into the league. Usman Tariq’s unusual journey found its stage from that moment. His action may look odd It may raise eyebrows but it is legal tested and effective. Usman Tariq exists as a mystery who keeps winning in modern cricket which lacks mystery.