Pakistan captain Salman Agha defended off-spinner Usman Tariq’s unorthodox bowling action ahead of their T20 World Cup opener against the Netherlands in Colombo. He described Tariq as the team’s “X factor” and praised his ability to make a difference in crucial moments.
Tariq, 28, has played three T20 Internationals since his debut against South Africa in November. His unusual side-arm sling-shot style has previously been reported twice for a suspect action during the Pakistan Super League, but he was cleared after testing. Tariq claimed two wickets against Australia in his second T20 International, drawing attention from both fans and players.
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“I don’t understand why we are talking about his action because, in my opinion, it is fair,” Salman told reporters. “He has been tested twice and cleared. There is no problem with his action. He is the X factor, and we will use him when needed.”
Pakistan, which boycotted its Group A match against India, must perform strongly to qualify for the Super 8 stage. Their group also features the United States, who defeated Pakistan via Super Over in the 2024 edition, as well as teams like Namibia and the Netherlands. Salman stressed the importance of playing their best against all sides.
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“It is crucial because you haven’t played much against these teams, and you don’t know their strengths or weaknesses,” he said. “We must bring our A-game and focus on executing our plans for 40 overs.”