![The Sri Lanka college cricket action and Usman Tariq [Source: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1774100411264_TheSriLankacollegecricketactionandUsmanTariq.jpg?type=hq)
The Sri Lanka college cricket action and Usman Tariq [Source: X]
There have been many idols and inspirations in the world of cricket, from Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli to Ricky Ponting and Steve Smith. Legends have been inspiring people for generations. However, a rare moment occurred when a spinner from Sri Lanka imitated Usman Tariq in a cricket match and was humiliated by the move later.
Notably, Usman Tariq is the Pakistan spinner who has risen to fame after his controversial pause and dramatic delivery style, as he also has an unnatural arm action while delivering the ball.
Tariq, an off-spinner, has been an asset for the Men in Green in the T20 World Cup despite the early exit. Now, it seems like his influence has travelled across the subcontinent.
Usman Tariq And The Sensation Behind His Dramatic Delivery
The 28-year-old cricketer hailing from Pakistan has played only 9 T20I matches, scalping 18 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.66.
Whether it is his controversial action, where he tends to pause during his run-up, or his tactical spinning abilities, he has been quite successful on the bowling front, given a close examination of his numbers.
In PSL too, he was successful in the last edition of the league, where he scalped 10 wickets from just 5 matches while striking at an impressive 12.0 and maintaining an economy rate of 7.95.
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The bowler, who steered much debate before the marquee India vs Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup 2026, successfully restricted the Men in Blue by giving away just 24 runs while scalping one wicket, although the whole world was expecting him to perform better.
Nevertheless, days after his widespread attention, either famously or infamously, across social media and the internet, a Sri Lankan college spinner tried to imitate Usman Tariq's bowling style.
Sri Lanka College Spinner Embarrasses Himself With Tariq Move
During the 121st edition of the long-standing rivalry since 1905, in Sri Lanka's Richmond College, Nethuja Basitha attempted a Tariq-like delivery during the Lovers' Quarrel match against Mahinda College in Galle on Saturday, March 21.
Basitha, who is a left-arm spinner, tried to pause his action and then deliver off one leg, which partially resembled Tariq's style. However, adding to the humiliation, the on-field umpire immediately called it a dead ball, cancelling Basitha’s attempt to deliver the ball.
Why Basitha Wasn’t Allowed To Ball Like Tariq?
Although Basitha was stopped, Usman Tariq's action has not faced any consequences to date. However, Clause 41.4 of MCC’s laws deals with deliberate attempts to distract the batter, under which, if an umpire considers that such an attempt has been made, he or she may immediately call and signal a dead ball.
The same rule also includes a provision of awarding five penalty runs to the batting side. However, the college cricket tournament did not see the umpire award such runs to the opposition.
It might be the case that while Tariq’s natural stride includes that dramatic pause, Basitha’s normal action does not. Hence, the umpire might have felt that it was a deliberate attempt to distract the batter and thus called it a dead ball.
Usman Tariq To Feature For Quetta Gladiators In PSL 2026
Usman was retained by the Quetta Gladiators in the upcoming Pakistan Super League 2026 tournament for a price of PKR 5.6 crore.
The right-arm off-spinner will feature for the Gladiators in their opening game of the league against Karachi Kings on March 27, after the tournament officially kicks off on March 26.
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