Pakistan off-spinner Usman Tariq has been named in the 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, but he was not selected for the opening match of the three-match T20I series against Australia in Lahore on Thursday, January 29.
Usman Tariq’s surprise omission is now being seen as a deliberate move by the Pakistan cricket team management to keep him safe for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, especially for the big game against India. If the off-spinner is exposed, the match officials can ban him.
And Pakistan would certainly not want their premier bowler to be banned ahead of the prestigious tournament to be played in India and Sri Lanka, where spinners play a crucial role.
Controversial history of Osman Tariq
Tariq has been accused several times of chucking, which is an illegal bowling action. Whenever a Pakistani bowler bowls, his unique style attracts attention. His hand comes from the side, and there is a clear stop just before releasing the ball.
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The audience feels as if his elbows bend and straighten excessively. Because of this look, fans, commentators and even some international players have accused Tariq of chucking. England batsman Tom Banton had recently expressed his doubts publicly during the ILT20.
The spinner was first reported during the Pakistan Super League in March 2024. He was sent for trials at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. The test examined how straight her elbow was during delivery. Within a few days the results came back and he was allowed to continue bowling.
Then, during the PSL in April 2025, Tariq was reported in action for the second time, and he went through the same biomechanical tests. And once again, authorities found nothing wrong.
At present, Tariq is free to bowl, but there is risk ahead. If his action, which has already been reported in the PSL and ILT20, is reported for the third time this season, the Pakistani bowler could be barred from bowling immediately. In that case, he will need clearance from an ICC-approved laboratory before returning to bowling again.
Controversial protection of Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq
Tariq has been under the scanner for a long time due to his unusual bowling action. Although he has been acquitted twice after an official trial, the suspicions surrounding him have never really gone away. Whenever he bowls, the discussion of chucking returns and critics keep a close eye on his elbows.
But questions have now been raised on how carefully Pakistan seems to be dealing with it. Tariq was not selected for the recent white-ball series against Sri Lanka, even though he was fit and available.
Once again, the off-spinner was not selected for the first T20I against Australia in Lahore even though these games were crucial for the Pakistan team’s preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
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Pakistan saving secret weapons to face India in T20 World Cup 2026
Tariq’s absence has fueled speculation that Pakistan is trying to protect him from being reported again. Many believe that Pakistan is carefully guarding one of its mystery bowlers so that he is available for the big clash against India in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Fans say that the bowler is being rested or kept away from the recent matches. The fear is that if he plays regularly before the mega event, ICC umpires may report his bowling action again. Another report may lead to a ban and Pakistan does not want this before the World Cup.
Meet 2RS Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq. He is a clear product of chucking!!
– Pakistan is not playing any match for them since the last 2 series. Earlier he had taken a hat-trick.
– Pakistan is planning to play against India directly to avoid the ban before the World Cup!! pic.twitter.com/Ld1U3v5h9V
– Rajeev (@Rajeev1841) 30 January 2026
Pakistan is saving this certified chucker Usman Tariq for the match against India
They don’t want him to be banned before the T20 World Cup, they are trying to save this chucker so that he can play at least one match before getting banned in the World Cup.
pic.twitter.com/KwkscnWC7j– Space Recorder (@1spacerecorder) 30 January 2026
Meet Usman Tariq, the mystery spinner of “2-RS” #Pakistan “
– Walking, talking, chucking tutorial. No disguise required.
– Took a hat-trick… then disappeared even faster from Pakistan’s consistency.
– Benched for two straight series (because #ICC Cameras are present).
– Now the masterplan:… pic.twitter.com/wVBERpfLRF– Mr. Kaindal (@mrkindaluk07) 30 January 2026
Just found out there is a guy named Usman Tariq who plays for Pakistan and is a certified bowler pic.twitter.com/v9C5EEALUA
– Ayush (@yush_18) 30 January 2026
Why is Pakistan hiding Usman Tariq, if he is part of T2OI WC 2026?
He is a certified chukker and they are not playing him at all from the last 2 series so that he does not get banned before T2OI WC 2026, they will play him directly against us in the WC so even if he gets banned,…
– Rajeev (@Rajeev1841) 29 January 2026
India says Usman Tariq is a fraud
Usman Tariq has been deliberately left out of the last two series to avoid a possible ban
Pakistan don’t want him to be banned before T20 WC, they are trying to save him for India’s match in T20 WC. pic.twitter.com/B9bMk0tWHc
– Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) 30 January 2026
Usman Tariq can become a topic of discussion in the World Cup. His bowling action looks strange and not very smooth.
He has played only two T20 matches against South Africa and Zimbabwe and even took a hat-trick against Zimbabwe, which proves his potential.
But the main issue is the bowling action… pic.twitter.com/1EN6pu6pvM
– myself (@MonochromicXT) 30 January 2026
A tribute to Chakar Usman Tariq, the man who brings more ‘throw’ than ‘flow’ to the game.
He had come to weave a net of gold,
Leaving a story yet untold.
But Abhishek, with Willow High,
Will send that story to the sky.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/jXNPtlJ5WC-Neeraj (@NeerajY00859341) 30 January 2026
@cricketworldcup ,@vikrantgupta73 ,@ashwinravi99,@WasimJaffer14
If someone reports bowling action in a match, should he be able to bowl the full quota or he will be out of the match, he will not be able to bowl until he has completed the action.
There is concern about the bowling action of Usman Tariq.– Shivam Mishra (@iShyamMishra1) 30 January 2026