Now it’s a battle of the elites. The margin for error will be very thin as the Super 8 stage begins with Pakistan taking on an extremely competitive New Zealand at the Premadasa in Colombo. Both teams know that a loss in this game will make things significantly difficult for them going forward.As per the weather report, there is a bit of rain around, even though none of the games in Colombo have been affected yet.

While Pakistan have been here since the start of this edition, playing on the slower spin-friendly pitches, this will be their first outing in these conditions for the Black Caps.To start then, in this battle of equals, Pakistan are slightly ahead given the depth of the spin attack that they possess.Mystery spinner Usman Tariq has been excellent so far, with none of the teams able to have a go at him.For New Zealand, the onus will be on the likes of middle-order batters Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell to deal with the threat.Chapman revealed that they are taking the Tariq factor into consideration.“Tariq has a pretty unique action with the way he stops at the crease, so that’s something to factor in. But Pakistan have a number of really good spinners in their side. Each of them poses his own threat,” Chapman said.But the left-hander also mentioned a familiarity factor that New Zealand enjoy with Pakistan.The two teams have met each other quite often in T20Is — the last series being hosted by the Kiwis in 2024-25, which they won 4-1.“Pakistan is one of the teams that we’ve played probably the most frequently over the last few years. So, we’re well aware of what they’re going to bring,” Chapman said.Pakistan had a good outing in their last game against Namibia at the SSC and it’s unlikely they are going to make significant changes to the playing XI.Paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi and leggie Abrar Ahmed haven’t been in the best of form and they were left out of the game against Namibia.To play any of them, Pakistan will have to drop a batter, which they may well be reluctant to do.The spin duties will be shared by Tariq, Saim Ayub, Mohammed Nawaz and Shadab Khan while left-armer Salman Mirza is likely to be the lone pacer.For New Zealand, it’s pretty simple.They will look to have their captain Mitchell Santner back, who missed their last game against Canada due to an illness.His style of bowling is perfect for Sri Lanka conditions and he should be a handful for the Pakistan batters.“Santner looks pretty sprightly, he’s pretty excited to get back,” Chapman said, adding that paceman Lockie Ferguson, who had gone home following the birth of his first child, will be back late before the game.“Lockie is landing potentially tonight. So we’ll just see how he pulls up from the flight,” Chapman said.

Suryakumar Yadav and Usman Tariq (Agency Image)

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav admitted that the team’s batting has looked a little shaky in the first two matches of the T20 World Cup but expressed confidence in handling Pakistan’s tricky spinner Usman Tariq, describing him as “an out of syllabus question” in an exam. “See, sometimes there is a question in the exam as well which is out of syllabus. So, we can’t leave that question. To tackle that, you have to adopt your own way. Yes, he is a different character when he comes to bowl,” Surya said at the pre-match press conference.

He added, “But at the same time, we can’t just surrender. We practise with similar types of bowlers and similar actions. We will try to execute what we are practising in the net sessions.” India’s earlier matches exposed some vulnerabilities, with the team reduced to 77 for six against the USA and then losing five wickets for just four runs in the death overs against Namibia. Looking ahead to Sunday’s clash on the slow Premadasa wicket, Surya acknowledged the challenge posed by Tariq’s unusual bowling action, which has sparked debates about legality. “We had a scratchy start. You can’t run away from the fact that it was not a proper T20 wicket. But I said earlier too that you can’t actually brush everything under the carpet. There is no excuse,” he said. He remained positive about the team’s recovery, noting, “But we came back strongly. So, that’s the beauty of T20 cricket. One or two batters I think taking that responsibility makes us cross the line.” Surya also highlighted the mental challenge of facing Pakistan, saying the key is handling pressure and big moments. “Yes, there will be pressure. There will be nerves, butterflies in the stomach when we start the game tomorrow. But yeah, at the same time, if there’s no pressure, no nerves, then there’s no fun to play cricket. And yeah, it’s a big occasion. But yeah, I mean, every time I say the same thing, at the end of the day, it’s just another game. You have to pack your skills, play some good cricket, focus on what you want to do better, and we’ll see what happens.” Despite Pakistan being in Sri Lanka for the past fortnight, Surya remained confident. “They might have some edge. But as I said, we have come here before, we have played in these conditions, we know how the pitch plays, similar conditions to India. It’s like the same situation for both the teams. See, it’s definitely challenging when you come to Sri Lanka. But then at the end of the day, you have to challenge yourself, somehow find a solution and come out good,” he said.

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq (AP Photo)

The spotlight at the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2026 has firmly shifted towards Pakistan off-spinner Usman Tariq, whose unusual action — marked by a statue-like pause at the crease — has sparked debate as much as it has baffled batters. The 28-year-old’s delivery stride, featuring a noticeable halt before release, has become one of the tournament’s most discussed elements, raising questions around legality, rhythm and the fine margins of modern spin bowling.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Tariq’s rise has not been without controversy. Critics have revisited past reports of suspect actions, pointing towards cricket’s long-standing “15-degree elbow flex” rule, which limits how much a bowler’s arm can straighten during delivery. Though twice reported during the Pakistan Super League, he was cleared after biomechanical testing at the National Cricket Academy Lahore.

Addressing the issue, Tariq insisted his action stems from a natural physical trait. “I have two elbows in my arm… my arm bends naturally. My bent arm is a biological issue,” he said, reiterating that testing validated his technique.What truly unsettles opponents, however, is the “long pause” that disrupts timing. Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed explained that the momentary halt breaks a batter’s concentration, making even routine deliveries unpredictable. The effect has been evident, with players like Cameron Green and Dewald Brevis among those visibly puzzled by Tariq’s release point and pace variations.

Despite the scrutiny, results have backed the spinner’s inclusion. He announced himself on the global stage with three wickets against the United States and boasts an impressive early T20I record, including a hat-trick in Rawalpindi. As the tournament progresses across spin-friendly conditions, Tariq’s unconventional action remains both Pakistan’s secret weapon and cricket’s hottest debate. Whether viewed as innovation or controversy, his long pause and biomechanical uniqueness have ensured that every delivery he bowls is watched with equal parts intrigue and suspicion.

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq (AP Photo)

CHENNAI: If the online troll army is getting worried about Pakistan’s mystery slinger spinner Usman Tariq ahead of India’s blockbuster clash against the neighbours, they have MS Dhoni to blame.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Apparently, Tariq, once a sales-man working in the UAE, changed the course of his life when he decided to escape the humdrum and chase his dream when he watched ‘MS Dhoni, The Untold Story’.Inspired by the Indian legend’s moment of truth in the film, when he left his job in Kharagpur as ticket-collector to become a full-time cricketer, Tariq quit his Dubai job and returned to Paki-stan. He worked on his game, got his opportunities in franchise leagues across the world, and in captain Salman Ali Agha’s words, is now “Pakistan’s X-factor”.

It’s Tariq’s stop-start run-up and the slinging delivery action that have caused irritation among teams, IPL’s new millionaire Cameron Green adding fuel to the fire after being unable to deal with Tariq in the recently-con-cluded ODI series.Suddenly, Tariq’s action has become the talking point and after the USA struggled against him on Tuesday, the decibels seem to have risen a bit. Tariq took 3-27, taking the steam out of the USA chase, and was the fulcrum of the spin quintet, which includes part-timer Saim Ayub too.It’s the traditionally slow Pre-madasa track, where Pakistan play India next, that’s leading to the cause for worry. Tariq, who stops before delivering, is very slow through the air and it sometimes seems that the ball wouldn’t reach the bat. The batter has to create all the momentum to hit him.While his slowness is par for the course because of the quirkiness of the action, the difficulty for the batter arises when one ball suddenly comes a little faster and turns. There are voices in the cricket world which insist that Tariq chucks that delivery and that he shouldn’t be allowed to play.But the mystery spinner has found an ally from an unusual quarter in the form of the master of the craft of off-spin, R Ashwin, who posted his support on X.Eminent batting coach and former India player WV Raman, too, believes Tariq isn’t chucking, but India shouldn’t find it difficult to play him. “With a round-arm ac-tion it is very difficult to chuck … It is the quirkiness of Tariq’s ac-tion that is creating the problem. Batters are used to a rhythm where everything keeps happening in one go. When suddenly there is a pause, you start thinking about what’s go-ing on,” Raman told TOI.“But Indian batters are good enough to deal with this. Kedar Jadhav and Riyan Parag bowl like that from time to time, so it’s not that they are not used to it,” he said. Over the next few days, the chat-ter will continue. The Indian play-ers are superb players of spin bowl-ing, somebody like Shivam Dube being a designated spin-hitter. Pakistan will have a few more spin-ners in their XI in the form of Mo-hammed Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan and India will need all their skill to deal with the threat, led by Tariq.

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq, left, celebrates with teammates (AP/PTI)

Sahibzada Farhan’s blistering fifty and a clinical spin attack propelled Pakistan to a convincing 32-run victory over the United States in their Group A T20 World Cup clash at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Tuesday. Farhan was the star with the bat, smashing 73 off just 41 balls to guide Pakistan to a competitive 190 for nine. His aggressive innings, which included multiple towering sixes, gave Pakistan the platform to post a strong total despite losing early wickets. Babar Azam (46 off 32) supported him well, adding 81 runs for the third wicket after Pakistan slipped to 56 for two in the Power Play.

The USA openers, Shayan Jahangir (49 off 34) and Andries Gous (13 off 13), offered a solid start, reaching 50 for one after five overs. But once Pakistan’s spin quartet – Abrar Ahmed (1/30), Mohammad Nawaz (1/21), Shadab Khan (2/26), and Usman Tariq (3/27) – was introduced, the US innings struggled. Seven of the eight wickets to fall were claimed by Pakistan’s spinners, preventing any sustained partnerships. Skipper Monank Patel fell cheaply to Shadab, and Jahangir’s lofted shot was well caught by Shaheen Afridi at mid-wicket. Shubham Ranjane (51 off 30) and Milind Kumar (23) fought back with a fourth-wicket stand of 66, but the required run rate proved too steep, leaving the USA short of the target. Earlier, Pakistan had lost Saim Ayub and captain Salman Agha to Shadley van Schalkwyk’s fiery spell (4/25) in the sixth over, but Farhan’s muscle-bound assault kept the innings on track. Even as wickets fell at the back end, Shadab’s 30 off 12 balls ensured Pakistan finished with a formidable total. The win marks Pakistan’s second straight victory, taking them to the top of Group A with four points. Brief Scores: Pakistan 190/9 (Sahibzada Farhan 73, Babar Azam 46; Shadley van Schalkwyk 4/25) beat USA 158/8 (Shubham Ranjane 51, Shayan Jahangir 49; Usman Tariq 3/27) by 32 runs.

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq celebrates after takin the wicket of South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

New Delhi: It was 2017. Haseeb ur Rahman vividly remembers the night he and his cousin Usman Tariq were having dinner and watching MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, a biopic on the former India captain. That night changed Tariq’s life forever. After watching the movie, he decided to pursue his true passion, cricket, and left Dubai for the second time to make a name for himself.“He got motivated after watching Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s movie. What moved him was how Dhoni worked as a ticket collector while juggling his dream of playing cricket for India with his job. The scene that moved Usman was when Dhoni was sitting on a bench at the platform, it started raining, and he then ran and caught the train to head home and give cricket another shot. That scene inspired Usman to take the leap of faith, and I remember him saying, ‘Bhai jaan mera scene bhi toh yahi hai’ (My case is also pretty similar),” Haseeb ur Rahman tells TimesofIndia.com from Dubai.

Haseeb says what he saw in Usman’s eyes that day made him believe the boy was destined for bigger things.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Uski aankhon mey ek zidd thi, ek junoon, aap yun keh leh ki pagalpan tha (There was a stubborn resolve in his eyes, a burning obsession, you could even call it madness),” says Haseeb, with a lump in his throat.Usman followed his calling and left Dubai for the second time, this time with a purpose. Success did not come immediately. He had to toil hard, and one fine day his bowling video went viral on social media.

A young Usman Tariq (left) with his elder (extreme right) and cousin Haseeb ur Rahman in the middle. (Sepcial Arrangement)

“He joined a cricket academy in Nowshera, which is around 30 kilometres from our village Charsadda. Usman used to bowl to Pakistan cricketer Iftikhar Ahmed in the nets, and one fine day his bowling video went viral,” says Haseeb.“He became a celebrity. People started calling him to play matches for their clubs. They used to pay him between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500. The money helped him with fuel,” laughs Haseeb.“Then I think he got an offer from the US. He played for a small club there. He also played in the Karachi Premier League, where he caught everyone’s attention. Then the PSL came calling, followed by the CPL, Pakistan’s national team and now the ILT20 as well,” he adds.The club matches Usman played would not have been possible without Haseeb, who sent him money to buy a bike.

Haseeb ur Rahman (left) and Usman Tariq (extreme right) in their village Charsadda in Peshawar (Special Arrangement)

“He used to walk kilometres to play matches. I asked him to buy a bike. It was a gift from me, but after that it was up to Usman how he maintained it. I did my job as an elder brother,” says Haseeb.

Chopping onions, surviving Kabul’s cold

Before watching MS Dhoni’s biopic, moving back to Pakistan and eventually wearing national colours, the road Usman took was a long one.Usman lost his father very early and, being the eldest in the family, by the time he turned a teenager he was already working and had become the sole breadwinner.“It was in 2007 when his father died. The family was under financial duress,” recollects Haseeb. “He moved to Dubai when he was only a teenager. He worked in a hotel and his job was chopping onions. He did it for a few weeks. It was a tough job and it took a toll on him. One day he messaged me and said he had to stand all day and his back had started hurting. He returned to Peshawar after resigning,” reminisces Haseeb.

At the time, Haseeb was working with an NGO in Kabul, Afghanistan.“I asked him to come to Kabul. He landed in winter. The temperature was minus 10 degrees. In Kabul, it goes down to minus 15 degrees at night.“I asked my bosses to help me find him a job. But jab aapki kismat kharab rehti hai toh aap kuch nahi kar sakte (When you are out of luck, nothing goes your way). My boss did not give me a positive response,” he says.Haseeb even went to the director of his NGO, offering to take a pay cut.“I told him, ‘aap isey kaam de do aur meri salary cut kar ke ise paise de do, but isey pata nahi chalna chahiye’ (Give him the job instead and pay him by cutting my salary, but he should not find out). At least he would have some mental peace. It also did not work out.

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq bowls during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

“We tried a lot, despite the security situation in Kabul. He stayed with me for three weeks. When it started snowing, his back pain worsened. I advised him to go back to Peshawar because he would not have survived Kabul’s winter,” says Haseeb.

Back in Dubai

Usman kept doing odd jobs for three years in Islamabad. In 2016, when Haseeb moved to Dubai from Kabul, his younger brother followed him. But it was not easy, as accommodation in Dubai is very expensive, and without a job, Usman stayed in a labour camp where he shared a room with 20 others.“I did not have a job, and neither did he. I was staying at a friend’s flat in Dubai, whereas he was staying in a labour camp in Sonapur. He was sharing a room with 20 people,” recollects Haseeb.

Usman was staying in a labour camp in Sonapur, in Dubai. He was sharing a room with 20 people

Haseeb ur Rahman, cousin of Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq

“I invited him over one day. He came all the way from Sonapur. Living in a labour camp is tough, and I could see he was not well. I asked him to spend the night at my friend’s place without even seeking permission. I will never forget the happiness in his eyes,” says Haseeb.After finding a job as a logistics officer in a procurement company, the juggle between life, cricket and work continued.In October 2016, another life-changing moment arrived on Usman’s door when the duo went to a Peshawar Zalmi talent hunt in Dubai.

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq celebrates after takin the wicket of South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

“Those they found interesting were asked to bowl more. When Usman bowled, they were impressed. He was asked to bowl six balls. I thought they would sign him, but they did not offer him a contract,” says Haseeb, who was also the first to suggest Usman stick to spin after he went for runs in a street cricket match played on Sundays near the Hyatt Regency hotel in Palm Deira.“In that tournament, he switched to spin bowling and immediately made an impact,” says Haseeb.A week later, Zalmi called him to return to Pakistan to play matches.“He could not afford to lose his job and said no to Zalmi. He was in tears that day,” recollects Haseeb.

The debate on bowling action

Recently, Usman has been in the news because of his bowling action.During the T20I series against Australia, Cameron Green irritably mimicked his action, accusing the Pakistani spinner of chucking. The same happened during the ILT20 in Abu Dhabi, where England batter Tom Banton made a similar chucking gesture.

There is a pause in Usman Tariq’s action, which is legally allowed. His action is unusual and unique, with some variations. Ultimately, the decision on its legality rests with the ICC, the umpires and the match referees.

R Ashwin, former India cricketer

Former India spinner R Ashwin also took a subtle dig. “There is a pause in Usman Tariq’s action, which is legally allowed. His action is unusual and unique, with some variations. Ultimately, the decision on its legality rests with the ICC, the umpires and the match referees,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.But Usman found support in former Australia cricketer Usman Khawaja. “There aren’t many things worse than being called a chucker in cricket. The stigma is real. The man is just doing his best and has been cleared twice. Let’s have some perspective and understanding and stop jumping to conclusions,” Khawaja said on Instagram.

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq bowls during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

At Pakistan’s pre-match press conference in Colombo, Salman Ali Agha also came out in support of his player.“I don’t understand why we are talking about his action. In my opinion, it is a fair action. He has been tested twice and has cleared it. In the end, does he need to hang a notice around his neck saying that he is clear,” said Agha.

Mental toughness

Amid all the noise around his bowling action, Haseeb says Usman remains unfazed and credits his mental toughness.“He jokes about it,” says Haseeb. “He says he does not care. He passes a sarcastic smile and says they 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).”

Poll

What inspired Usman Tariq to pursue cricket?

Haseeb recalls the time they spent together in Dubai and Kabul and says Usman would often tell him, “Bhai jaan, main yeh 9-to-5 waali zindagi ke liye nahi bana hoon (I am not built for a nine-to-five life).”Like Dhoni, whose batting and keeping technique and long hair once led many to doubt him, Usman realised after watching the biopic that he would need to do something special at the World Cup. He wants to be known for his wicket-taking ability rather than his slingy action.