ABU DHABI: Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has once again defended his bowling ahead of the DB World International League T20 final on Sunday night.
A late addition to the Desert Vipers squad in place of Noor Ahmed, Tariq made an immediate impact on the business end of the match.
In the qualifier against MI Emirates, he took three crucial wickets, including the remarkable dismissal of Tom Panton, to help the Vipers secure a place in the final.
Following that dismissal, Bandon suggested Tariq’s delivery was “thrown”, reigniting the debate over the fast-turned-spinner’s unorthodox move.
The top Pakistani spinner has faced similar allegations in the past, but insisted he was cleared twice at laboratories in Pakistan.
According to the rules of cricket, bowlers’ arms can be bent up to a maximum of 15 degrees during delivery. Tariq insists his action falls within these limits, attributing the controversy to the unique structure of his elbow.
“My elbow has two corners that are difficult for me to fully straighten,” explained Tariq.
“As you can see from history, whenever spinners face accusations of chucking, they go to the lab, try to change their action, and work on the right amount of flexibility. This sometimes confuses the audience. I had two official tests in Pakistan and my action was destroyed. Like others, I didn’t have to change anything. I’m not confident.”
He also addressed social media criticism, urging commenters to educate themselves before making accusations.
“If you don’t understand cricket and still share opinion or opinion, illiteracy kills knowledge. Better to understand the game first,” he said.
Tariq’s bowling style is definitely unique. He started playing tap-ball cricket in Pakistan as a fast bowler before switching to spin after an injury.
His success came quickly: he took a hat-trick in his second game for Pakistan and went on to win several T20 franchise titles.
Now, Tariq hopes to help the Desert Vipers win the ILT20 for the first time after losing the previous two finals. Speaking on Vipers’ podcast Vipers Voices, he reflected on dealing with the pressure of the finals:
“The pressure of that final is always different. As a human being, you feel it, but the skill lies in managing it. Experience has taught me how to de-stress and bounce back. Team management also plays an important role by creating a supportive environment.”
Vipers captain Sam Curran hailed the impact of the new recruit.
“This is his first time bowling on the field. He is very unique and very talented. We lost Noor earlier and Usman has stepped up perfectly. We hope he will deliver the same in the final and continue to be a quality bowler for Pakistan in the future,” Curran said.
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