Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin has offered a cheeky yet tactical suggestion to Indian batters ahead of their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, step away if Usman Tariq pauses before delivering the ball.

Tariq, the 30-year-old off-spinner with a distinctive stop-and-go, side-arm action, has become one of the most talked-about bowlers of the tournament. In just four T20Is, he has picked up 11 wickets at an economy rate of under six, making him a potential game-changer on the slow Premadasa surface.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said batters are well within their rights to disengage if they feel unsure about the timing of Tariq’s release.

“If he stops before delivering the ball, the batsman has the right to move away. He can say, ‘I thought he was stopping.’ That would be an interesting case and a huge headache for the umpire,” Ashwin remarked.

“If I were there, I would do it. One should do everything within the rules to win a game. I’d simply say I don’t know when he will release the ball and step away. Once I move, it becomes the umpire’s responsibility.”

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Ashwin added that such a response could pile pressure on Tariq in a high-stakes encounter.

“Imagine the pressure on Usman Tariq in the middle of the match. It would be an incredible joyride. He is their ace. Imagine what happens if the batter reacts like that.”

Tariq’s action has divided opinion in the cricketing world. While some have questioned its legality, Ashwin has urged caution before jumping to conclusions.

He pointed out that judging whether a bowler exceeds the ICC’s permissible 15-degree elbow extension limit is nearly impossible in real time.

“There is a 15-degree rule, and to determine on the field whether someone is within that limit is extremely difficult. The only solution is having a real-time, in-competition testing tool. It’s a grey area, and accusing someone for operating within a grey area is unfair,” Ashwin said.

With tensions running high ahead of the India-Pakistan showdown, Tariq’s unusual action could once again be at the centre of attention.