Usman Tariq in focus as Pakistan tune up for India under lights

Two hours into Pakistan's training session at the R. Premadasa Stadium, a bowler paused in his delivery stride, holding his landing foot in the air before releasing the ball with exaggerated delay. The antics were so familiar that it could only have belonged to Usman Tariq.

It was Naseem Shah, smiling as he rolled his arm over. With one such delivery, he beat Abrar Ahmed so convincingly that even the net bowler, diligently attempting to spin the ball from the front-of-the-hand like Varun Chakaravarthy, allowed himself a smile.

For a side that has often carried visible tension into big India games, this felt different. Shaheen Shah Afridi, after steaming in for close to an hour, began floating left-arm orthodox. Babar Azam sweated through his stint and rolled his arm over. Then the mimicry began.

While Shaheen Afridi attempted his version of a Tariq, Naseem was the most convincing impersonator, twisting his body whole and dialling up the drama with each ball. It was playful, but it wasn't random. Usman does loom large in Pakistan's plans come Sunday (February 15).

"We wanted to give Tariq a game," captain Salman Agha had said at Pakistan's last fixture, against USA. "I think he's a match-winner and a trump card for us, so we want to use him," Friday's session suggested that faith is not rhetorical.

The tall off-spinner, with his delayed action, round-arm delivery and subtle changes of pace and angles at the crease, is being positioned as Pakistan's disruptor-in-chief against India's left-hand-heavy batting order. He bowled an extended spell on match minus-two day, operating largely against now-benched Fakhar Zaman, and incumbent openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub.

By the time India arrived in Colombo after a day spent navigating travel and immigration, Pakistan were already done. They have been in the city for a few days, but both their matches so far were at the SSC. This was their first proper training session under lights at Premadasa, and with Saturday evening allotted to India, it was their only chance to rehearse here in match conditions. All 15 squad members turned up.

The evening began with a huddle. Head coach Mike Hesson stood animated, addressing the group before the players dispersed into carefully structured drills. Net bowlers were tasked with replicating Axar Patel's left-arm angle and Chakaravarthy's leg-break and googly mix. Salman Mirza, who made way for Tariq, bowled a long stint under the watch of bowling coach Ashley Noffke. There were extended conversations between Hesson and Salman, quiet but intense, away from the cameras.

Saim Ayub's session was more technical. A blue patch on a good-length area was marked out with cones. He was asked to land the ball on it. At times, the coach gestured with his bat, tracing the hitting arc of India's left-handers, a subtle nod to past damage inflicted in this rivalry.

Under lights, the drills grew more specific. Babar Azam and Naseem practiced high catches in the deep with a tennis ball, tracking it against the glare. Abrar rehearsed run-outs, targeting throwing at a single stump in one motion. Abrar and Shaheen unfurled big hits. Faheem Ashraf, Player of the Match in the opener, received a pat on the back after nailing a yorker.

There may be uncertainty in the skies, but within the nets the signals felt clearer. Long after the drills wound down and the laughter thinned out at the R. Premadasa, it was that exaggerated pause in the delivery stride that stayed with you. Not because Naseem mimicked it well, but because everyone knew whose action he was borrowing.

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