India and Pakistan are set to clash on February 15 in Colombo in T20 World Cup.
Indian supporters accused Usman Tariq of "chucking" when bowling against the United States, prompting widespread internet outrage. The claims reappeared despite the fact that the ICC had already cleared his bowling action on two occasions.
Tariq responded to the criticism by stating that he remains focused on his game, but that the attention may put pressure on Indian hitters ahead of the two teams' headline encounter.
“I guess there will be extra pressure on them. Because the way they’re discussing these things, I think, if they’re just discussing it in that sense, meaning they’re just objecting to that, it shows that, maybe, there will be extra pressure on them. But I don’t know about it. I’m really focusing on my games. I don’t have any idea what’s going around in the media and stuff. It’s a simple thing that I’m just focusing on my cricket and practice,” Usman Tariq stated after the USA match, as quoted by the Indian Express.
Pakistan, which has beaten the Netherlands and the United States, is on the verge of qualifying for the second round. They will now try to win only their second T20 World Cup against India, the first being in Dubai in 2021. India leads the competition with a 7-1 head-to-head record and is 14-1 overall in World Cup matches.
Tariq chose to downplay the match against India on February 15 and urged his team to keep their plans simple.
“I think the record that we note down—I guess we should note it down from where we started losing. If you look at it from the beginning, then we have a good record from the beginning. So we should count that also. Because those are also the title matches. And apart from that, the match that is coming next, it’s like, obviously, all of us are focusing on one thing: that any game that comes to us, any game to play, we have to give our best. And in this way, we have to win this World Cup. And just make it memorable for everyone. So, it’s just a normal game for me, for the team. Because when you’re just getting that hype, or that kind of thing on your mind, obviously, it’s better to keep it simple. And just stick to the plans; that’s it,” he said.