A tense moment between Daryl Mitchell and Usman Tariq caught attention during a PSL 2026 match between Quetta Gladiators and Rawalpindi at the National Stadium in Karachi. The incident quickly became a talking point because it connected to the ongoing discussion about Tariq’s unusual bowling action.
Mitchell Pulls Out Twice During Tariq’s Delivery
Usman Tariq walked in to bowl with his well-known stuttering run-up. Just before delivering the ball, he paused during his action. This caused Daryl Mitchell to step away from the crease.
Mitchell pulled out twice while Tariq was preparing to deliver the ball. His reaction showed that he was not comfortable with the pause in the bowler’s run-up. At that moment, Rawalpindi were already under pressure while chasing a big target and needed nearly eleven runs per over.
On Tariq’s second attempt to bowl, the umpire called it a dead ball. This created a short delay in the game as the umpires discussed the situation.
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, who was part of the commentary team, expressed frustration during the broadcast. He suggested Mitchell should stay ready and focus on facing the delivery instead of stepping away repeatedly.
Clips of the incident quickly spread on social media, with many fans discussing the unusual moment during the match.
Ashwin’s Earlier Advice Comes Into Focus
Earlier in the year, Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had spoken about Usman Tariq’s bowling action. Ashwin said that batters have the right to step away if a bowler pauses during the delivery.
He even encouraged players to try stepping out against Tariq if they felt the action was unusual. His comments started a wider discussion about what is considered acceptable during a bowler’s run-up.
Despite the debate, the International Cricket Council had already cleared Tariq’s bowling action twice after testing it earlier. This confirmed that his action is legal under ICC rules.
During the match against Rawalpindi, the umpires did not issue any warning to Tariq about his action.
Interestingly, Tariq later proved his value by picking up a wicket during the innings, showing he remained effective despite the controversy.
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Quetta Gladiators vs Rawalpindi Match Summary
Quetta Gladiators set a strong total of 182 for 6 in their innings. Rilee Rossouw played an important role with a half-century, while Saud Shakeel supported well in the middle order.
Rawalpindi struggled during their chase and could not build strong partnerships. Wickets kept falling regularly, making the target difficult to reach.
Saad Masood scored 31 runs but lacked support from other batters.
Usman Tariq delivered a solid bowling performance with two wickets. Saud Shakeel and Jahandad Khan also picked up two wickets each as Quetta dominated the match.
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Key Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Quetta Gladiators | 182/6 | Rilee Rossouw 53, Saud Shakeel important support |
| Rawalpindi | 121 all out | Saad Masood 31 |
| Bowling Highlights | Usman Tariq 2/23, Saud Shakeel 2 wickets, Jahandad Khan 2 wickets |
Quetta Gladiators eventually won the match by 61 runs at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Points Table Impact
After the win, Quetta Gladiators moved up to fifth place in the PSL 2026 standings with two wins from five matches.
Rawalpindi’s struggles continued as they remained at the bottom of the table after losing their first five matches of the season.
