Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez believes the buzz around mystery spinner Usman Tariq has already handed Pakistan a psychological edge ahead of their high-stakes T20 World Cup clash against India on Sunday, February 15.

Tariq’s unorthodox action has generated significant attention since his international debut, and the chatter has only intensified in the build-up to the marquee encounter. Both Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha and India captain Suryakumar Yadav faced multiple questions about the spinner during their pre-match press conferences.

Despite having played only four T20Is, Tariq has made an immediate impact, claiming 11 wickets at an impressive average of 7.9.

Previewing the contest, Hafeez suggested that the hype surrounding the 28-year-old indicates unease within the Indian camp.

“If we talk purely from a cricketing perspective, the hype around Usman Tariq is already a psychological victory for us,” Hafeez said.

“Right now, no one is talking about Babar Azam or anyone else — the focus is entirely on Usman Tariq. He has played only a handful of matches, yet look at the kind of discussion he has generated. India are even practicing specifically to counter him.”

Hafeez added that rarely does a single player dominate the narrative to such an extent before an India-Pakistan clash.

Also Read: ‘Call him a slogger?’ Harbhajan Singh warns Pakistan about Abhishek

“The entire media and cricketing world are not just thinking about the result, but about what Usman Tariq will do tomorrow. That tells you something.”

How Pakistan should use Usman Tariq

Hafeez stressed that Pakistan must deploy Tariq as an attacking weapon rather than a defensive option if they want to maximise his impact.

“I want to see how positively Salman Agha uses him as captain. If you use Usman Tariq defensively, it won’t work. He needs to be used with an attacking mindset.”

Hafeez even suggested introducing the spinner as early as the sixth over, often a pivotal phase in T20 cricket, to apply immediate pressure.

“That sixth over is crucial for any bowling unit. It’s usually bowled by your most impactful bowler. If Usman Tariq operates in attacking zones, I believe he can be extremely effective.”

While acknowledging the presence of other quality spinners like Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, Hafeez reiterated that the spotlight firmly remains on Tariq.

“I’m not saying Abrar, Nawaz or Shadab won’t make a difference. But right now, all the attention is on Usman Tariq.”