Brett Lee Harbhajan Singh and Saeed Ajmal [Source: X]Over the years, the cricketing community has been plagued by bowlers being called out as chuckers. Chucking is essentially an illegal movement made by bowlers where they throw the ball with skilful use of their elbow joints and wrist movement. According to International Cricket Council regulations, a bowling action is deemed illegal if the bowler’s elbow straightens by more than 15 degrees. However, what has brought this rule into focus is the peculiar action of Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq. The recent Usman Tariq controversy with GreenTariq was involved in a controversial moment with Cameron Green following the batter’s dismissal in the second T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. As Usman Tariq dismissed Green for 35 runs off 20 balls, Green was walking back to the dugout when cameras captured him making a baseball-style throwing gesture. This was interpreted publicly as Green accusing Tariq of chucking the ball. Interestingly, Tariq was officially reported for a suspect action twice during the Pakistan Super League in 2025, though he was later cleared. However, doubts remain over his unusual pause-and-play bowling style. However, Usman Tariq is not the only cricketer to have been accused of chucking. Many popular and legendary figures in cricket were also accused of throwing the ball too. 1) Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was suspended from bowling in December 2024 for ‘chucking’. Back in September 2024, Shakib was reported for a suspect bowling action on the field during a County Championship match for Surrey against Somerset. In December that year, Shakib underwent tests at Loughborough University, where it was found that his elbow extension exceeded the permitted 15-degree limit as per ICC regulations. He was then barred from bowling in international cricket and other domestic leagues as well. In March 2025, he passed an assessment at Loughborough University and currently, Shakib remains active in multiple franchise leagues with a green card on his bowling action. 2) Saeed Ajmal Pakistan’s world number one-ranked ODI bowler in September 2014, Saeed Ajmal, was banned from international cricket after tests revealed that his elbow extension was more than twice the permitted 15-degree limit. Ajmal was first reported for a suspected ‘doosra’ during an ODI series against Australia. However, he was cleared at the time. Later, in August 2014, umpires Ian Gould and Richard Illingworth reported him following the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. He was subsequently suspended from bowling after official testing revealed that every delivery he bowled was illegal. Although Ajmal consistently claimed that the bend in his arm was natural and caused by a road accident, his explanation failed to convince experts. Unable to replicate his success with a remodelled action, Saeed Ajmal later retired from cricket in November 2017. 3) Sunil Narine West Indies spinner Sunil Narine first came under the radar during the Champions League T20 in 2014, when he was banned from playing the final. In IPL 2015, he continued bowling but was issued a final warning, as his mystery action led to several controversies. In 2016, although he was cleared to bowl in all formats of cricket, the problem re-emerged during the Pakistan Super League in 2018 and again in IPL 2020. This chucking issue marred the career of Sunil Narine, who otherwise enjoyed blistering success in franchise cricket as well as other formats. It pushed him to focus more on his power hitting, and currently, with a remodelled action, he continues to actively participate in franchise cricket. 4) Brett Lee Even the so-called god of perfection with a mechanical arm bowling action, Australia’s veteran pace bowler Brett Lee, faced a chucking controversy early in his career. His action was reported in 2000, and despite extensive scrutiny, he was officially cleared of all charges by the ICC in the same year. He was reported for a suspect action by two Indian umpires during Australia’s Test series against New Zealand. However, the investigation, which included legends such as Sunil Gavaskar and Michael Holding on the panel, reviewed extensive slow-motion video footage of Lee’s action before delivering a clear verdict in his favour. Biomechanical studies later attributed the visible bend in Brett Lee’s arm to hypermobility in his shoulder and elbow joints, something that was completely biological and not forced beyond permissible limits. 5) Harbhajan Singh India’s spin legend Harbhajan Singh was reported for a suspect bowling action back in 1998 during his early career. After being reported, he underwent remedial coaching in England and was subsequently cleared by the panel. In December 2004, Harbhajan was again reported during a series against Bangladesh, with assessments noting that his elbow flexion was close to 22 degrees. However, later, after the ICC implemented a standardized rule allowing a 15-degree bend for all bowlers, Harbhajan’s action was deemed legal.
