As the cricketing world braces for the high-octane India-Pakistan clash this Sunday, the tactical conversation has shifted from the pitch to the pause. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat', has offered a cheeky yet legal strategy for Indian batters to counter Pakistan's newest "mystery" weapon: Usman Tariq.
Usman Tariq’s signature move is a dramatic, statue-like pause just before releasing the ball; a rhythm-breaker that has flummoxed established stars like Cameron Green and Dewald Brevis. Ashwin suggests that the best way to handle a disruptor is to become one.
Ashwin advises batters to simply step away from the crease if Tariq stops his delivery stride.
Legal loophole: Under the laws of the game, a batter can withdraw if they aren't ready. "The batsman has the right to move away. He can say, 'I thought he is stopping.' That will be a huge headache for the umpire," Ashwin explained.
Mental warfare: By withdrawing, the batter puts the pressure back on Tariq to reset his unique action, potentially turning Pakistan's "ace up the sleeve" into a liability in a high-pressure environment.
While some critics, including former England captain Kevin Pietersen, have questioned the legality of Tariq's side-arm sling, Ashwin has defended the bowler while calling for better technology.
To judge if a bowler is within that 15-degree mark by the on-field umpire is impossible. The only solution is having a real-time, in-competition testing tool. To accuse someone for utilizing a grey area is wrong.
R. Ashwin on 'Ash Ki Baat'
With the R. Premadasa Stadium expected to offer grip and slow turn, Tariq's role becomes even more important. Pakistan has used him sparingly to maintain his "mystery" factor, but against an Indian middle order that recently struggled against Namibia’s side-arm off-breaks, Tariq is expected to be Salman Ali Agha’s primary trump card.
Ashwin believes that if Indian batters like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma dare to challenge the pause, it could lead to an "incredible joyride" of psychological drama in the middle of the world’s most anticipated fixture.
