'Time the pause' - Usman Tariq's action reignites discussion after batter pulls out twice during PSL face-off - video

Daryl Mitchell pulls out of facing Usman Tariq in PSL

Mitchell was batting for Rawalpindiz in the PSL as they attempted to chase down 183 set by the Quetta Gladiators.

They were 54-3 in the eighth over when Tariq came into the attack. The first three balls went for singles – two to Abdullah Fazal and one to Mitchell – before the spinner came in for his fourth delivery.

Watch: Sri Lanka college spinner attempts Usman Tariq-like pause in bowling action, umpire calls dead ball

This time, as Tariq paused, Mitchell put a hand up and moved away from his stumps, pulling out of the delivery. Tariq ran in once again, and once again just after he paused, Mitchell did the same; this time, Tariq went along with his momentum and delivered the ball just past leg stump.

Mitchell had a couple of animated words with wicketkeeper Khawaja Nafay before umpire Sharfuddoula walked down the pitch to speak to the batter. "I think he's got to be ready. Daryl Mitchell has got to be just a wee bit better than that," noted Ramiz Raja on commentary.

After Mitchell spoke with Sharfuddoula, the match resumed.

Ashwin: If the pause isn’t consistent, the batter has every right to move away

While Tariq's bent bowling arm has been called into question before, the pause after he loads up is also considered a grey area with regards to the "fairness" of his action.

"If Tariq pauses before delivery, the batter has the right to move away. The batter can say, 'I don't know when the ball is coming, so I moved away'," former India spinner R Ashwin suggested on his YouTube channel as a tactic to counter Tariq, ahead of the Pakistan-India clash at the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Ashwin himself had attempted pausing before delivering the ball during his career, but that was ruled illegal as it was against the rhythm of his natural bowling action, and could be considered as a deliberate attempt to distract the striker under section 41.4 of the MCC's Laws of Cricket. However, this has not happened to Tariq as the pause is part of his natural action.

Ashwin chimed in on the Mitchell incident, writing on X, "Now it’s up to the umpires and match referees to time the pause for his delivery. If the pause isn’t consistent, then the batter has every right to move away."

Mitchell eventually batted for another four overs following the incident, before falling caught and bowled for 30 off 32 to Quetta skipper Saud Shakeel, who took an excellent diving catch. Youngster Saad Masood hit a quick 31 off 19, but it was never going to be enough as Rawalpindiz slumped to a 61-run loss and a fifth defeat in five games this season.

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