West Indies legend Carlos Brathwaite has publicly accused a verified Indian social media account of fabricating comments attributed to him regarding Pakistan bowler Usman Tariq’s bowling action.
The controversy surfaced just days before the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Group A clash. The issue began after the verified account posted a now deleted statement claiming Carlos Brathwaite had made remarks about Usman Tariq’s action.
The post quoted him as saying, “India should bat first on 15th to see what Usman Tariq does. If he chucks, don’t step back. Tell your guns to chuck too. Give what you get. As simple as that.
Carlos Brathwaite responded directly from his official X account, firmly denying that he had ever made such remarks. He questioned where and when the alleged comments were made and described the post as false and misleading.
He also stated that he would report the account, signaling that he intended to pursue action over what he viewed as a deliberate attempt to misrepresent him.
The incident sparked broader discussion about misinformation on social media, particularly when verified accounts circulate unverified or fabricated quotes involving international players. Given the timing ahead of a high-profile match, the controversy quickly became part of the pre-match narrative.
The issue unfolded amid intensified online debate about Usman Tariq’s bowling action. Allegations and debate around “chucking” have intensified in recent days, particularly as attention builds around the India-Pakistan match.
@RCB_HIvv3 @elonmusk your platform need to start demonetizing people that post fake quotes and attribute them to public figures.
They can post what they want , get called out and take down the post. 296k people have seen this and formed an opinion of a baseless claim . pic.twitter.com/UpF8XClnoq
— Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26) February 12, 2026
One aspect under discussion is his brief halt during the run-up before completing his delivery stride. Supporters argue the pause is a tactical move used to read the batter’s footwork and adjust line and length. ICC playing conditions permit such actions as long as they do not excessively delay play, and no on-field action has been taken.
India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in Colombo on February 15 in what is expected to be one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
