England’s left-arm spinner Liam Dawson has dismissed concerns over Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq ahead of their crucial T20 World Cup Super 8 match on Tuesday. The two-time champions are gearing up to tackle Pakistan’s entire spin attack with confidence, following a dominant 51-run victory over co-hosts Sri Lanka.
A win against Pakistan would secure England’s spot in the top two of their group, paving the way straight to the semi-finals. However, vulnerabilities in England’s top order against spin have been exposed, with four of their top five batsmen struggling against Sri Lankan spinners in the previous game. Pakistan boasts a formidable spin arsenal including Tariq, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Sam Ayub, Salman Agha, and Mohammad Nawaz.
Tariq has been the talk of the tournament, particularly for his dramatic pause before delivering off-breaks. Even England captain Harry Brook was spotted mimicking Tariq’s unique action in the nets. Yet, the experienced Dawson emphasized not fixating on one player.
Speaking to reporters on the eve of the match, Dawson said, ‘It’s not all about Tariq. Pakistan is a very good team with some dangerous players. Obviously, Tariq is a very good bowler, but we’re not just focusing on him. We’ll keep the whole team in mind and think about how we can beat them.’
Dawson, alongside Will Jacks and Adil Rashid, claimed seven wickets to bundle out Sri Lanka for 95 chasing England’s 146/9. He credited the variety in England’s spin lineup for their success. ‘We’re all very different spinners. Jacksy gets a lot of overspin and bounce. Dilly (Rashid) has all his variations. I don’t get the bounce the other two do. Tuesday night will be a different challenge. We might get a better batting wicket. We’ll see.’
Dawson described himself as a more defensive spinner, focused on consistency for the captain. With vast experience across the board—himself, Rashid, and even Jacks—he expressed full trust in the playing XI. This balanced approach could be key as England aims to navigate Pakistan’s spin web and advance in the tournament.