Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha speaks in the course of the post-match presentation after Pakistan defeated UAE within the second match of the tri-series on the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on August 30, 2025. – Screengrab/Livestream
Pakistan captain Salman Agha defended off-spinner Usman Tariq’s unorthodox bowling motion on Friday and known as him the facet’s “X factor” on the eve of their Twenty20 World Cup opener in opposition to the Netherlands in Colombo.
Tariq, who has performed three T20 Internationals since his debut in opposition to South Africa in November, has been reported twice for a suspect bowling motion within the Pakistan Tremendous League (PSL). His bowling type culminates in him pausing close to the crease earlier than firing the ball in with a side-arm sling-shot motion.
The 28-year-old claimed two wickets in his second T20 Worldwide, in opposition to Australia, and Australia batsman Cameron Inexperienced — considered one of his two victims in that match in Lahore — made a chucking gesture after being dismissed as he made his method off.
“I don’t understand why we are talking about his action because in my opinion it is a fair action,” Salman instructed reporters.
“He has been tested twice and he has been cleared.”
“I think there is no problem in his action. Yes, he is the X factor of the team, and where we feel that we need an X factor, we will definitely use him.”
Having determined to boycott their Group A contest in opposition to defending champions India over political tensions between the neighbouring nations, Pakistan could have little margin for error of their bid to qualify for the Tremendous 8 stage.
Aside from India, the group additionally comprises the US, who shocked Pakistan by way of the Tremendous Over within the 2024 version of the match.
Salman mentioned they must be at their greatest even in opposition to second-tier groups like Namibia or the Netherlands.
“It is very important because you haven’t played much against these sides and you don’t really know their strength and weakness are,” he mentioned.
“So it is very, very important to bring your A game, and we as a team only think about how we can execute our plans for 40 overs.”
