Pakistan’s spinner Usman Tahir is facing ball-tampering allegations from Australian cricketer Cameron Green, but former Australian batsman Umar Akmal has come to his defense. In a series of posts on social media, Umar Akmal expressed his support for Usman Tahir, urging the cricket community to be cautious and avoid jumping to conclusions.
This development comes at a time when Pakistan and Australia are set to face each other in the second T20 International match. The incident occurred during the 11th over of Australia’s innings, when Usman Tahir bowled a full-length delivery outside the off stump. Cameron Green, who was batting at the time, attempted to sweep the ball, but it was caught by Shadab Khan. The Australian batsman appeared frustrated and pointed towards the Pakistani bowler, seemingly suggesting that he was ball-tampering.
Umar Akmal shared a video of an Australian journalist on Instagram and wrote that accusing a cricketer of ball-tampering is one of the worst allegations in the sport, and it can have severe consequences. He emphasized that Usman Tahir has undergone two official tests in Pakistan, and his action was cleared both times. Umar Akmal also pointed out that whenever spinners are accused of ball-tampering, they are forced to change their action, but Usman Tahir has not made any changes to his action.
This is not the first time Usman Tahir has faced ball-tampering allegations, as he has been reported twice during his career, including last year’s ICC-approved biomechanics lab test. However, his action was declared legal on both occasions. The International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup was won by India.
In other cricket news, the Pakistan cricket team has started their training sessions at the Sindh Sports Complex in Karachi. The team’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, said that the players are not feeling any pressure from their previous matches. Cricket Australia has also confirmed that the players are not under any pressure. Former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Bajwa Khan, and Ramiz Raja will be providing commentary for the World Cup matches.
Former Indian captain Kapil Dev said that the decision to boycott the India-Pakistan match was made by the government and the cricket board in line with their policy. The 2026 T20 World Cup is set to begin on February 7, and several exciting developments are expected to take place during the tournament. One of the most notable developments is that several veteran players will be participating in the tournament.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has written a letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board, stating that the boycott of the tournament has affected the Sri Lankan tourism sector, with many fans canceling their hotel bookings. Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik said that the cricket season is in full swing, and the topic of the tournament is also gaining attention.
The Pakistan cricket team has canceled their cultural night program to express solidarity with the victims of the Islamabad blast. The Inspector General of Islamabad, who is the cousin of one of the martyrs, also attended a press conference to pay tribute to the victims.
Former Pakistani cricketer Umar Akmal has defended Pakistani spinner Usman Tahir against ball-tampering allegations from Australian cricketer Cameron Green.
