Colombo, February 15 – Pakistan off-spinner Usman Tariq described playing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India as a “dream” and expressed confidence that his team’s batsmen would successfully chase down 176 in a crucial Group A match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
India posted 175/7 in their 20 overs, with Ishan Kishan scoring a blistering 77 off 40 balls. Pakistan’s spinners dominated the innings, bowling 18 of the 20 overs, with Saim Ayub taking 3-25 to restrict India after Kishan’s dismissal.
Tariq, who drew attention due to the variations in his bowling action and release points, bowled effectively in the middle overs, taking 1-24, including the dismissal of India captain Suryakumar Yadav.
“The India-Pakistan match is a huge one. The atmosphere is great, and it’s been a fantastic experience. It feels like a dream,” Tariq said during a break in the innings.
When asked about adapting his bowling to the slow pitch, Tariq said, “The pitch was quite slow. I have experience from the CPL, so I know how to handle it. I just kept the batsmen under pressure, and we are now in a good position.”
Tariq further expressed confidence in his team’s ability to chase down the target. “Of course, absolutely. Our batsmen have great momentum, and their performance shows that we are clear in our minds, and hopefully, we can achieve it,” he added.
The India-Pakistan rivalry is one of the most intense in cricket, and Sunday’s match at the R. Premadasa Stadium was no different. The match drew a large crowd, including PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, ICC Chairman Jay Shah, tournament ambassador Rohit Sharma, and BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla.
With spin already playing a key role, the chase is expected to test Pakistan’s batting discipline on a surface that offers grip and turn, especially with the formidable Indian bowling attack consisting of spinners Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav.
