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Pakistan’s young fast bowler Zaman Khan came under the spotlight for his slingshot bowling action during a Big Bash League match on Saturday, after Australia star David Warner openly questioned the legality of his action during the game.
Warner, who top-scored with a commanding 82 for Sydney Thunder, was seen repeatedly gesturing towards Zaman and raising concerns with the on-field umpire while facing the pacer. The exchanges were clearly visible on the broadcast and quickly became a talking point, overshadowing Zaman’s difficult first outing of the season.
Introduced early, Zaman struggled to find control. His opening spells were marked by inconsistent lengths and wayward lines, including wides from both over and around the wicket. Warner appeared largely untroubled, calmly working singles before punishing the loose deliveries. A full toss was driven through cover for four, while a short and wide ball was pulled powerfully as Warner cruised to his sixth Big Bash fifty.
"Like a four-year-old bowling. It stays so low."
Zaman’s troubles continued when he returned later in the innings. Attempting to rely on slower balls and wide yorkers, he repeatedly missed his execution. Sam Billings capitalised during the death overs, pre-empting laps and sweeps to collect a sequence of boundaries. One over proved particularly costly, as Zaman conceded three consecutive fours and a wide, with the lack of pace allowing Billings to wait and place his shots at will.
By the end of his spell, Zaman had conceded 32 runs from three overs without taking a wicket — figures that reflected both his control issues and the pressure applied by experienced batters. Zaman is part of the Brisbane Heat squad as a replacement for injured Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, and the match marked his first appearance of the season.
Despite the scrutiny surrounding Zaman’s action and his expensive spell, Brisbane Heat emerged victorious. Chasing comfortably, they sealed a seven-wicket win, with Usman Khawaja anchoring the innings with a fluent 78 to guide his side home.
The episode revived memories of a previous Big Bash controversy involving Pakistan fast bowler Muhammad Hasnain, whose action was questioned during an earlier season after concerns were raised by Marcus Stoinis. Hasnain was subsequently suspended, underwent an extended rehabilitation process to remodel his action, and saw his international career significantly disrupted.
While no official action was taken during this match, the on-field reactions from David Warner ensured Zaman’s action became a major talking point, highlighting the intense scrutiny young fast bowlers face in the Big Bash League.
Video: David Warner on Zaman Khan's action:
View attachment ssstwitter.com_1768051691150.mp4
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Warner, who top-scored with a commanding 82 for Sydney Thunder, was seen repeatedly gesturing towards Zaman and raising concerns with the on-field umpire while facing the pacer. The exchanges were clearly visible on the broadcast and quickly became a talking point, overshadowing Zaman’s difficult first outing of the season.
Introduced early, Zaman struggled to find control. His opening spells were marked by inconsistent lengths and wayward lines, including wides from both over and around the wicket. Warner appeared largely untroubled, calmly working singles before punishing the loose deliveries. A full toss was driven through cover for four, while a short and wide ball was pulled powerfully as Warner cruised to his sixth Big Bash fifty.
"Like a four-year-old bowling. It stays so low."
Zaman’s troubles continued when he returned later in the innings. Attempting to rely on slower balls and wide yorkers, he repeatedly missed his execution. Sam Billings capitalised during the death overs, pre-empting laps and sweeps to collect a sequence of boundaries. One over proved particularly costly, as Zaman conceded three consecutive fours and a wide, with the lack of pace allowing Billings to wait and place his shots at will.
By the end of his spell, Zaman had conceded 32 runs from three overs without taking a wicket — figures that reflected both his control issues and the pressure applied by experienced batters. Zaman is part of the Brisbane Heat squad as a replacement for injured Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, and the match marked his first appearance of the season.
Despite the scrutiny surrounding Zaman’s action and his expensive spell, Brisbane Heat emerged victorious. Chasing comfortably, they sealed a seven-wicket win, with Usman Khawaja anchoring the innings with a fluent 78 to guide his side home.
The episode revived memories of a previous Big Bash controversy involving Pakistan fast bowler Muhammad Hasnain, whose action was questioned during an earlier season after concerns were raised by Marcus Stoinis. Hasnain was subsequently suspended, underwent an extended rehabilitation process to remodel his action, and saw his international career significantly disrupted.
While no official action was taken during this match, the on-field reactions from David Warner ensured Zaman’s action became a major talking point, highlighting the intense scrutiny young fast bowlers face in the Big Bash League.
Video: David Warner on Zaman Khan's action:
View attachment ssstwitter.com_1768051691150.mp4
BBL: Pakistan pacer's bowling action under fire, David Warner takes cheeky dig at him
Zaman Khan came under scrutiny in the BBL after David Warner questioned the Pakistan pacer’s slingshot action on the field, reviving memories of past controversies involving bowlers’ actions.
