Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed on Saturday (March 14) triggered debate by comparing Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah with Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq.

Bumrah played a pivotal role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav used him in different phases and the ace fast bowler certainly delivered for the team, finishing as the tournament’s joint-leading wicket taker with 14 scalps from eight outings.

Bumrah returned with figures of 4/15 in the final against New Zealand at Ahmedabad and posted an economy of 6.21 throughout the competition. Deservingly, he was named Player-of-the-Match in the title clash.

Addressing the media in Lahore, Aaqib argued that Bumrah’s awkward action, pace and ability to disrupt a batter’s rhythm make him a rare commodity in contemporary cricket, drawing parallels with the uniqueness of Tariq’s "pause-and-sling" action.

Tariq’s unusual action has proven effective with notable performance at the T20 World Cup, claiming 10 wickets in six matches.

“In today’s era, across this entire World Cup, there is only one bowler like that - Bumrah. Because he is different. He is not a normal bowler. Even his action is unusual. When he comes in to bowl, I always say he is like the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers,” Aaqib told reporters.

“He bowls so quickly and in such a unique manner that a batter never really finds any flow or rhythm against him. He simply doesn’t allow it,” he added.

Aaqib Javed further stated that barring Bumrah, no other bowler in this World Cup evoked the qualities of legendary pacers such as Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

“Other than him, tell me one more bowler in this entire World Cup - from any team - whom you can look at and feel satisfied that he carries the reflection of a Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, or anyone like that. You won’t find one anymore,” he remarked.

The four-wicket haul in the final took Bumrah to 40 T20 World Cup wickets, moving him past Lasith Malinga and Anrich Nortje, who both have 38 wickets each, to become the leading fast-bowling wicket-taker in the tournament’s history.