A fresh controversy erupted in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Friday as New Zealand’s senior batter Daryl Mitchell briefly refused to play against Quetta Gladiators’ mystery spinner Usman Tariq, protesting the bowler’s unique pause before delivery.
The incident occurred during the middle overs of Rawalpindiz’s chase at the National Stadium. As Usman Tariq approached the crease, he performed his trademark prolonged stutter, effectively stopping his momentum before releasing the ball. Mitchell, visibly frustrated by the disruption to his timing, stepped away from his stumps and signaled to the umpire that he was not ready to face the delivery.
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Mitchell pulled out more than once in the over, leaving the on-air commentators frustrated. Ramiz Raja, who was on air, opined that Mitchell should have done better.
FROM ASHWIN’S IDEA?
The standoff appeared to be a tactical move straight from the playbook of Indian veteran Ravichandran Ashwin. Recently, Ashwin had publicly discussed the legality of Tariq’s action, suggesting that batters should use the laws of the game to counter the pause.
Ashwin had noted that if a bowler’s delivery stride is so staggered that it confuses the batsman’s peripheral vision, the batsman is within his rights to pull out. By doing so, Mitchell forced a lengthy discussion between the umpires and the Quetta captain, though Tariq was eventually allowed to continue without a formal warning.
Notably, Usman Tariq’s unique action has been deemed legal by the International Cricket Council.
QUETTA CLINICAL IN VICTORY
While the Mitchell-Tariq duel provided the evening’s drama, the Quetta Gladiators dominated the actual contest, securing a convincing 61-run win to solidify their position in the 2026 standings.
Batting first, Quetta posted a strong 182/6. The innings was anchored by veteran Rilee Rossouw, who struck a composed 53. He found able support in Saud Shakeel, as the pair neutralized the Rawalpindiz pace attack before a late flourish took the score past 180.
In response, Rawalpindiz never found their rhythm. The chase derailed early as wickets fell at regular intervals. Saad Masood offered a lone fight with 31, but the rest of the batting order crumbled under the pressure of the rising run rate.
TARIQ SHINES
Despite the mid-over protest, Usman Tariq remained the most effective bowler on the night. He finished with figures of 2/23 from his four overs, crucially claiming the wicket of Mitchell shortly after their confrontation.
Tariq’s ability to maintain an economy rate of 5.75 on a good batting surface proved vital. While his action remains the most debated topic of the 2026 season, the results suggest that for now, the Gladiators have a psychological weapon that opponents are struggling to defuse.
Rawalpindiz are rooted to the bottom of the table with five defeats in as many matches. Quetta, on the other hand, are fifth in the eight-team table with two wins in five matches.
– Ends
