Not Babar Azam, Abhishek Sharma, or Suryakumar Yadav, it’s relatively unknown bowler Usman Tariq who has garnered the most attention before the India vs Pakistan match in the T20 World Cup 2026.
All eyes on Usman Tariq
Since last year, Tariq’s been making headlines due to his peculiar actions. Some have accused him of chucking, but the off-spinner has cleared the ICC test twice. But before the high-octane game, everyone’s talking about his action again. Captains of both teams, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha, have been asked about it. India’s taking the mystery spinner seriously as well. We saw Suryakumar copying his action in the nets, giving practice to Indian batters.
Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez thinks Tariq is creating panic in India’s dressing room. The media have been incessant in their coverage.
“From a cricketing perspective, the hype around Usman Tariq is already a psychological victory for us. Right now, no one is talking about Babar Azam or anyone else. The focus is entirely on Tariq. He’s played just one or two matches for Pakistan, yet imagine the panic he’s causing in the Indian camp. They are specifically practicing against him in their sessions,” Hafeez told Tapmad.
“How often do you see this much discussion about a single player? The media, fans, and the world are thinking not just about the match result, but about what Tariq might do tomorrow,” the former cricketer said.
Pakistan’s trump card
Hafeez hopes that Salman can use Tariq properly, like the weapon he can be. The Pakistan captain has to go for wickets. It’s not like Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, or Shadab Khan won’t be useful, but it’s clear that Tariq is the trump card for Pakistan.
“I want to see how positively Salman Agha makes decisions and how he uses Tariq. If he’s used defensively, nothing will work. You need an attacking mindset. Even the sixth over can be crucial, usually bowled by your most impactful player. Planning around Tariq is key. If he’s used in an attacking zone, he can be very effective. I’m not saying Abrar, Nawaz, or Shadab won’t matter, but right now, all eyes are on Tariq,” he concluded.
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