The buzz around the Pakistan vs. India match isn't about the usual rivalry anymore; it's all about Usman Tariq's unique bowling action! In Colombo, Pakistan's captain, Salman Ali Agha, visibly showed his annoyance when the third question about Usman Tariq's bowling action was posed during a pre-match press conference. This topic has been a hot potato even before the T20 World Cup officially began.
Just about a week prior, at another press conference in Colombo, Agha had remarked, "In the end, it comes down to the fact that he will hang a notice on his neck saying that I am clear, and he will tell the batter first that I am clear. Now, the matter has come to that." This statement highlights the captain's stance on the persistent scrutiny.
But here's where it gets interesting... Tariq, a 28-year-old bowler, dedicated nearly two hours to an extensive net session on Friday, bowling to almost every member of the Pakistan team. On Saturday, when questioned again about Tariq's action, Agha responded, "All players are equal in my eyes. You guys are the ones who are focused on Usman Tariq and have made him a big topic. Obviously, he has been bowling quite well for the past few months. He has played league cricket before representing Pakistan, where he also performed well. It can be said that he is a trump card for us." He further added, when pressed about whether Tariq felt the pressure, "I don’t think he cares about all that is being said about his action. People have been talking about his action ever since he started playing cricket."
The Pakistan captain isn't exaggerating. Tariq's path to international cricket has been far from smooth. He was twice reported for a suspect bowling action during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the last two seasons. However, on both occasions, he was cleared after undergoing tests at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
Usman's cousin, Haseeb ur Rehman, shared a rather amusing anecdote with TimesofIndia.com earlier this month: "He jokes about it. He says he does not care. He gives a sarcastic smile and says people do not know that he has cleared the ICC’s test twice. ‘Jitni nafrat faila rahe, main utna mashoor ho raha hoon’ (The more hatred they spread, the more famous I become)." This sentiment from his cousin suggests a resilient spirit in the face of criticism.
And this is the part most people miss... The third question about Usman Tariq seemed to be the tipping point for Agha, who is usually quite calm. After a deep breath and a look towards Pakistan’s media manager, he stated, "The guy has been cleared twice and has done everything the ICC asked him to do to bowl in international cricket. I don’t know why people are saying so many things about him, but one thing I can assure you is that he is very used to this. It has been with him since he started playing international cricket."
How to tackle Usman Tariq? This is the million-dollar question! Tariq's distinctive, exaggerated pause in his delivery stride has certainly piqued curiosity. Veteran Indian spinner R Ashwin even proposed an interesting idea on his YouTube show, 'Ash Ki Baat': "There is one thing I want to see. Who dares to do that?" He elaborated, "If Tariq pauses before delivery, the batter has the right to move away. The batter can say, ‘I don’t know when the ball is coming, so I moved away.’" Ashwin believes this scenario would create a "huge headache for the umpire," who would have to decide whether to warn the bowler or the batter. He speculated, "Odds are, and that is how cricket has worked, the bowler will be warned first." Imagine the pressure on Tariq if batters started withdrawing from his deliveries in such a high-stakes game! His unique action, which is currently Pakistan's trump card, could potentially become ineffective.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who has played with Tariq in the PSL, offered his perspective to The Associated Press: "Batters are struggling to read Tariq because of the long pause when he steps on the bowling crease. The pause disturbs their concentration and when he bowls a fastish delivery after that delay, or even a slower one, it leaves batters clueless."
What was initially anticipated as a classic India vs. Pakistan showdown has now been significantly overshadowed by this singular subplot. As the match approaches, the focus has shifted dramatically from geopolitical narratives to the intriguing detail of Usman Tariq's prolonged pause and unconventional bowling action. Could this unique characteristic be the defining element of this highly anticipated contest?
What are your thoughts on Usman Tariq's bowling action? Do you agree with R Ashwin's hypothetical scenario, or do you think it's unfair to the bowler? Let us know in the comments below!
