Usman Tariq PSL play at break (screengrab)

Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin have come out in support of darryl mitchell After New Zealand batsman expressed concern Osman TariqAbnormal delivery stopped during pakistan super league (PSL) 2026 match in Karachi.The incident occurred during the match between Quetta Gladiators and Rawalpindi, where Mitchell pulled the ball twice while facing Tariq, who was clearly uncomfortable with the bowler’s stop-start action. During the ninth over at the National Stadium, Mitchell initially played a paddle sweep but soon looked troubled by Tariq’s late release. As the over progressed, he moved away twice in between, indicating a halt to the bowler’s action.Repeated interruptions led to the on-field umpires having to intervene and have a brief discussion with the batsman before allowing play to continue. Mitchell was later caught and bowled by Saud Shakeel, leading to a heavy 61-run defeat for Rawalpindi.Ashwin’s opinion: “Batsmen have every right”Ashwin, who had earlier talked about such tactics on his YouTube show Aish Ki Baat, reiterated that batsmen have the right to withdraw if they feel the bowler’s action disrupts the timing.“Now it is up to the umpires and match referee to decide when to stop his delivery. If the break is not consistent, the batsman has every right to walk away. Captains and opposition batsmen should raise the issue with the umpires and match referee before the start of play. “Well done, Michelle,” Ashwin wrote.Interestingly, Ashwin had earlier suggested this exact approach, encouraging batsmen to move away, forcing umpires to award dead balls and thus neutralizing any advantage gained from irregular bowling rhythm. Tariq’s actions have been under scrutiny for some time due to the conspicuous pause before release and little follow-through thereafter. While he has been reported twice for suspicious activity in the past, he has been acquitted both times.