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Legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the tactical preparations for the highly anticipated T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan. Speaking on his YouTube channel, ‘Ash Ki Baat’, the veteran off-spinner focused his analysis on the unique challenge posed by Pakistan’s Usman Tariq, whose unorthodox side-arm action has become a major talking point ahead of Sunday's fixture.
Ashwin's solution to Usman Tariq's unusual action ahead of IND vs PAK clash
Recognising the difficulty of picking a bowler with such a non-traditional release, he shared specific insights on how to neutralise Tariq's threat and ensure the batters aren't caught off guard by the spinner's deceptive delivery style.
“If he stops before delivering the ball, the batsman has the right to move away. He can say that ‘I thought he is stopping’. That will be an interesting case and a huge headache for the umpire. If I was there I would have done it. One should do everything to win a game within rules. I would simply say I don’t know when he will release the ball and I would step away. If I move away, it is the umpire’s responsibility,” Ashwin said.
Usman Tariq, a real talk of the town
Usman Tariq has become a sensation in the international circuit, making a massive impact in just four T20Is. His statistics are nothing short of elite, having already claimed 11 wickets while maintaining an exceptionally disciplined economy rate of under six runs per over. As the anticipation builds for the high-stakes India-Pakistan clash, Tariq’s clinical efficiency is expected to be a central narrative, shifting some of the focus away from the traditional pre-match theatrics.
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The bowler's highly unconventional side-arm delivery has sparked significant debate across the cricketing world, though he has found an ally in Ravichandran Ashwin, who has previously voiced his support for the spinner's craft. Pakistan has been strategic with his usage, deploying him sparingly to maintain an element of mystery. However, the technical legality of his delivery remains a point of contention for many.
Addressing these concerns, Ashwin suggested the implementation of a real-time competition testing tool. Such technology would provide an objective measure to determine if Tariq's unique action remains within the ICC’s permissible 15 degree elbow extension limit. By utilizing live data, the sport could move past subjective opinions and ensure that his slingy style aligns strictly with the official rulebook.
“…there is a 15 degree rule under which a bowler needs to keep his elbow and straighten it and to judge if a bowler is bowling within that 15 degree mark by the on-field Umpire is impossible. “The only solution to that is having a real time in competition testing tool. The above is a grey area and to accuse someone for utilising the grey area is wrong,” he added.
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