Pakistan was expected to release Usman straight away against India, but instead opted to field him in Tuesday’s match against the US. That decision saw Pakistan take the field with four spinners in the frontline, with all-rounder Saim Ayub complementing the attack and Shaheen Shah Afridi operating as the only specialized pacemaker. The gamble paid off, with Usman’s spell playing a key role in Pakistan’s victory.
However, his performance once again sparked debate among Indian fans over the legality of his bowling action. Usman was previously reported twice for a suspected bent elbow but has since been cleared by the International Cricket Council. Addressing the debate surrounding his action, Usman suggested that focusing on the issue could work against arch-rivals India.
“I think there will be extra pressure on them. Because the way they are discussing these things, I think if they are just discussing it in that sense, which means they are just objecting to that, it shows that maybe there will be extra pressure on them. But I don’t know anything about it. I am really concentrating on my matches. I have no idea what is happening in the media and all that. It is very simple that I am just concentrating on my cricket and practice,” Usman said as quoted by The Indian Express.
Despite the build-up around the India-Pakistan encounter, the tall off-spinner downplayed the significance of the match and urged his side to keep their feet on the ground and focus on execution rather than the hype.
“I think the record we are recording, we have to record it from the point when we started losing. If you look at it from the beginning, we have a good record from the beginning. So we have to count that too. Because those are the title matches too,” the right-arm offspinner added.
And apart from that, for the match that comes next, it’s like we’re all focused on one thing: that in every match we want to play, we have to give our best. And this is how we have to win this World Cup. And make it unforgettable for everyone. So it’s a normal match for me and for the team. Because if you only have that hype or things like that in your head, it is of course better to keep it simple. And just stick to the plans, that’s all,” he said.
With the Men in Green already off to a strong start to the tournament, Usman’s emergence adds a new dimension to their spin-heavy strategy as they prepare for one of the biggest matches in the 20-team event.
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