Colombo: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson addressed questions on Sunday about his decision to bring mystery spinner Usman Tariq into the attack relatively late during Pakistan’s 61-run loss to India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Group A match in Colombo. The Pakistan team had been widely expected to deploy Tariq early, given the buzz surrounding his unorthodox bowling action.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Hesson clarified that Tariq has a highly specific role in Pakistan’s bowling plans. He noted that while Tariq is most effective when batsmen look to attack him, the team had opted to back other frontline spinners, Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan in the overs immediately following the powerplay. Both spinners had mixed success, and Hesson stressed that Pakistan had confidence in their ability to influence the game during that crucial middle phase.
When Tariq was eventually introduced, he bowled a tidy spell, dismissing India captain Suryakumar Yadav and finishing with figures of 4-0-24-1, offering some resistance in an otherwise difficult afternoon for the visitors. However, India’s total of 175/7, paced by a blistering innings from Ishan Kishan, proved too much for the Pakistan batting lineup to chase down.
Hesson also reflected on Pakistan’s overall performance, suggesting the side did not adapt well enough to the conditions and that India’s execution on the night ultimately dictated the outcome. Pakistan now faces a crucial match against Namibia on February 18 if it hopes to keep its Super 8s qualification hopes alive.
The defeat underscored India’s dominance in this high-profile rivalry and left Pakistan looking for answers amid growing discussion about tactics and the impact of players like Tariq in major tournament settings.
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