New Delhi, February 13 Spin great R Ashwin has a simple suggestion for Indian batsmen as they prepare to face the unique side-arm action of Pakistan off-spinner Usman Tariq on Sunday – simply move away when he pauses before delivering the ball.
The 30-year-old Tariq, whose stop-and-pause action has created quite a stir, has played four T20 Internationals and taken 11 wickets at an astonishing economy rate of less than six runs per over.
He could play a decisive role in Sunday's T20 World Cup clash between the bitter rivals on a slow Premadasa track.
"If he stops before delivering the ball, the batsman has the right to move away. He can say that 'I thought he is stopping'. That would be an interesting case and a huge headache for the umpire," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.
"If I were there, I would have done it. One should do everything to win a game within the rules. I would simply say that I don't know when he will release the ball, and I would step away. If I move away, it is the umpire's responsibility."
"Imagine the pressure on Usman Tariq in the middle of the match. It would be an incredible experience. He is the ace up their sleeve, imagine what he becomes if the batsman reacts like that," he added.
Tariq's unique action has divided the cricket world, but Ashwin had previously supported him.
Pakistan are using Tariq sparingly. He has become the talk of the cricketing universe, with former England captain Kevin Pietersen terming his stop-and-pause action illegal.
Ashwin called for a real-time competition testing tool to check if his side-arm action falls within the permissible 15-degree limit as per the ICC's rulebook. The rule allows for a 15-degree straightening of the elbow joint for all bowlers in international cricket.
"...there is a 15-degree rule under which a bowler needs to keep his elbow and straighten it, and to judge if a bowler is bowling within that 15-degree mark by the on-field umpire is impossible."
"The only solution to that is having a real-time competition testing tool. The above is a grey area, and to accuse someone for utilising the grey area is wrong."