The recent struggle of Indian batsmen against spinners has increased the tension regarding Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq. However, Ravichandran Ashwin thinks he has a solution to deal with spinner Tariq.
This match will be played at Colombo’s prestigious R. The game will be played at the Premadasa Stadium, which offers one of the best spinning tracks in the subcontinent, and Pakistan, with five exceptional spinners, will be heavily favored against India.
“That pause is part of his normal routine” – Ravichandran Ashwin on Usman Tariq’s pause
Several players have called for a possible ban on Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq for his controversial bowling action. He is known for his bent-arm, sling-arm, pause-and-deliver bowling action, which has turned him into an asset for them on the spin-friendly tracks in Colombo.
Speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Aish Ki Baat’, great Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has clarified that Usman Tariq’s bowling interruption is within the rules, as that is his established bowling action.
He assured, “If I have a normal bowling action but suddenly stop and bowl the last ball of the over, it was declared illegal a few years ago because it is against the natural rhythm of my bowling action. The umpire can warn me. For Tariq, the case is different. That stopping is part of his normal action.”
Ashwin gave a ‘magical spell’ to India to trouble Pakistan’s spinners
Ravichandran Ashwin has given up the ideal way to counter Pakistani off-spinners, which has been a surprise for Pakistan in every game he has played in the shortest format of the game. He devised a clever strategy by pointing out the loopholes in the rules of the game.
He explained that the batsman has the right to withdraw when Tariq stops mid-forward, complaining that he cannot predict the moment of his release.
“There is one thing I want to see – who dares to do that? If Tariq stops before the delivery, the batsman has the right to walk away. The batsman can say, ‘I don’t know when the ball is coming, so I walked away,'” he said.
“I doubt any Indian batsman has the ability to do it” – said Ashwin
However he suggested that the Indian batsmen would adopt that strategy and it would force the umpire to warn the bowler. However, he also admitted that he was not sure whether an Indian batsman would attempt such a move or not.
“It will be an interesting case and a big headache for the umpire. Look, I am not against anyone. If I was there, I would have done this. I would have done everything that is within the laws of the game,” Ashwin conspired. He also claimed that in such a situation, as per the history of the game, the umpire would prefer to warn the bowler first.
“Imagine the pressure on Tariq if the batsman starts to step back. He may have to change his action in the middle of the game. Pakistan’s trump card can prove to be nothing,” Ravichandran Ashwin said, however, he also established that the umpire can also ask the batsman to face it as it is part of his normal progression.
Ravichandran Ashwin concluded, “But I doubt any Indian batsman has the ability to do that. I’m not sure.”
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