Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has downplayed the hype surrounding spinner Usman Tariq ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against India in Colombo.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Agha emphasized that every player in the squad is equally important, insisting that Tariq is just “one of our 15 players.”
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The statement comes amid growing attention from Indian media and cricket experts, who have highlighted Tariq as a potential game-changer for Pakistan and hyped his bowling action.
However, Agha made it clear that the team views all members equally and that no single player carries the match on their shoulders.
“For us, all players are equal. You [the media] have made Usman Tariq such a big deal; for us, he is just one of our 15 players,” Agha said.
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“He has been bowling very well for the past few months, including in league cricket before joining the Pakistan team. He is certainly a trump card for us, but our strength lies in the whole squad.”
Agha also addressed the controversy around Tariq’s bowling action, which has been cleared twice by the ICC but continues to be discussed by some former cricketers and analysts.
Where to watch ICC T20 world cup 2026 matches live
Tapmad will stream the entire tournament through its website and mobile application.
“Usman doesn’t care about these comments. He is mature enough to deal with this, and it hasn’t affected his preparation. All 15 players are ready to perform tomorrow,” the captain added.
Pakistan faces India at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, with the match set to begin at 6:30 p.m PST and the toss scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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Agha highlighted that the team is fully prepared for all scenarios, including possible rain interruptions, and remains focused on executing their plans rather than worrying about outside opinions.
