T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan’s Usman Tariq - Objecting to my unusual action shows India may be under extra pressure

ICC’s player profile lists Usman Tariq as a right-arm off-break bowler. On Tuesday, at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), he was anything but predictable, relying more on his googly to claim three for 27 in Pakistan’s 32-run win over the USA in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group ‘A’ clash.

Tariq doesn’t have a long run-up. He walks in, pauses near the crease, and releases the ball with a side-arm, slingshot action–something that can appear awkward, or even illegal, at first glance. He was reported twice for a suspect bowling action during the Pakistan Super League, but was cleared on both occasions.

“I have two elbows in my arm. My arm bends naturally. I have got this tested and cleared. Everyone feels I bend my arm and all that. My bent arm is a biological issue,” Tariq had explained to the MYK channel earlier.

It’s not only the action that can be distracting, but also what follows: the lower trajectory, the slowness of the ball, and the variations.

READ | Pakistan captain Salman Agha defends Usman Tariq’s bowling action, calls spinner ‘X factor’

Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, Tariq has several variations up his sleeve, ranging from the carrom ball to the leg-spinner.

Introduced in the 12th over, he began with a googly, followed by a carrom ball. Tariq then bowled his stock delivery, the off break, before slipping in a quicker one and a leg-spinner. That is usually how he operates through his spell, constantly switching his fingers and wrist positions to keep the batters guessing.

“It’s been a long journey. I have been working on my action for a very long time now and have developed through different phases. When I started, I used to bowl differently, but I have evolved over time. It has helped me grow into the bowler I am today,” Tariq said after the win.

In his four-over spell, Tariq bowled 10 googlies, five carrom balls, three off breaks, a solitary leg-spinner, and six quicker deliveries, picking up all three of his scalps from the ones fired straight. He conceded just one boundary when Shubham Ranjane swept his googly for four.

“We have faced Usman Tariq in the USA, so we have played a lot of cricket against him. He bowled really well and changed the game by picking wickets. His action is tough to judge. We are used to it, but today we couldn’t find the boundaries against him,” USA’s top scorer Ranjane, who made 51, said after the defeat.

While this was only his fourth T20I – after making his debut against South Africa in November – Tariq has already shown a tendency to be accurate and economical. So far, he has an international economy rate of 5.93.

“The pitch was good to bat on today. I feel that if your work ethic and process are strong enough, you won’t find any issues bowling on wickets like these. This is our job as cricketers. My work ethic and process come from bowling on flat tracks in Peshawar, so I just followed the process, and the result was there, even on a flat track,” Tariq explained.

It is the culmination of these qualities that makes him an ‘X-factor’, as Pakistan skipper Salman Agha had described him heading into the mega event.

“Yes, he is the X-factor of the team, and where we feel that we need an X-factor, we will definitely use him,” Agha had told reporters ahead of the tournament.

While Pakistan didn’t feel the need to play him in its opening game against the Netherlands, Tariq was brought into the XI against the USA on a pitch that his side correctly read as one that would grip.

“The captain and coach read the pitch and decide what the best combination is to play. All our departments have done well, and whoever they think is best according to the surface plays,” Tariq said.

Pakistan next plays India at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, where spin has historically been the most effective skill. However, Tariq said he does not mind the extra attention that might come his way because of his unusual action.

“I guess there will be extra pressure on them if they are discussing these things. If they are objecting in that sense, it shows that maybe there will be extra pressure on them. But I don’t know about it. I am really focusing on my cricket and practice,” he concluded.

Published on Feb 11, 2026

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