Abrar Ahmed vs Usman Tariq: Who Should Be Pakistan’s Frontline Spinner at the T20 World Cup 2026?

[Cricket Warrior]

As Pakistan gear up for the T20 World Cup, the choice of a frontline spinner remains one of the most debated topics. Two names dominate the conversation — Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, each offering a very different skill set.

Abrar Ahmed brings mystery, variation, and the ability to take wickets in the middle overs, troubling batters with his carrom balls and changes of pace. On the other hand Usman Tariq has impressed with his control, accuracy, and economy, often building pressure and restricting scoring on flat T20 surfaces.

With conditions, match-ups and team balance all playing a role, the decision isn’t straightforward. So who should Pakistan back as their frontline spinner at the T20 World Cup — Abrar Ahmed’s wicket-taking threat or Usman Tariq’s control and consistency? You decide.

 

[GOSH11]

Ideally, we can somehow play both!

Issue is that we need depth to the batting order.

 

[ElRaja]

if its a spinning track, saim, nawaz, shadab, abrar, usman, lol.

realistically saim, nawaz, shadab, abrar agains the weaker batting line ups, and saim, nawaz, abrar and usman agains the stronger batting line ups.

 

[Major]

it should be shadab vs usman.

Abrar walks in

 

[shamaan]

Abrar is a guaranteed starter.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

2 pacers in SL is just a waste of the resource... i think Pak should pick both Abrar and Usman in the playing 11

 

[Rana]

Both should play

You have to take a big call and drop Shadab…

Or drop Babar and play Shadab at 4.

 

[Rana]

2 pacers in SL is just a waste of the resource... i think Pak should pick both Abrar and Usman in the playing 11

Faheem Ashraf should be in the XI as 3rd seam option if needed. That’s what QG were doing with him and playing both Abrar and Usman.

Babar out
Fakhar (unfortunately) out


Faheem+Usman in.


Your last issue is Nafay. He needs to be in the XI. I would take a punt and drop Shadab for him.

Farhan
Saim
Agha
Usman
Nawaz
Nafay
Faheem
Shaheen
Salman
Abrar
Usman

Babar can field for Usman once he’s done his 4 overs. Shadab can come in for Abrar when he’s done his 4 overs

Both are terrible fielders

 

[Asif321]

Actually both . Abrar is obvious choice as first genuine spinner in XI . The fight is between Tariq and Shadab . Only one can play . Hesson and Agha should stop dosti yaari and keep Shadab on bench

 

[Bhaijaan]

Abrar is the best T20 spinner in the world by far. A game changer.

The debate must be for the 2nd support spinner

 

[BouncerGuy]

In sri lanka, both of them should play. Even if we have to drop 1 pacer. We can drop shadab for Faheem and also shaheen to bring usman in.

Maybe just drop shadab for Usman...

 

[mon858]

Would play both against top sides and to surprise them dont play usman until such time. We kinda did this with ajmal even back in the day unleashed in playoffs .

He can play in place of Babar or Fakhar, both are useless for middle order these days. Replace one with Usman and one with Nafay. In batting order let Nawaz bat in Fakhar slot to keep leftie rightie combo going and momentum going.

Sahibzada
Saim
Salman
Nawaz
Nafay
Shadab
Usman K
Shaheen
Salman/Nasim
Abrar
Usman T

 

[Devadwal]

Would play both against top sides and to surprise them dont play usman until such time. We kinda did this with ajmal even back in the day unleashed in playoffs .

He can play in place of Babar or Fakhar, both are useless for middle order these days. Replace one with Usman and one with Nafay. In batting order let Nawaz bat in Fakhar slot to keep leftie rightie combo going and momentum going.

Sahibzada
Saim
Salman
Nawaz
Nafay
Shadab
Usman K
Shaheen
Salman/Nasim
Abrar
Usman T

No batting depth and lower middle order is full of inexperienced player's .

 

[sweep_shot]

Abrar definitely.

 

[jnaveen1980]

No batting depth and lower middle order is full of inexperienced player's .

Pakistan unit had so many horrendous collapses last year. Won't rule out a below 100 all out scenario. IN T20 nowadays they target certain bowlers while seeing off other bowlers. Also teams like England employ reverse sweep heavily. India should go with balanced attack. NO need of overloading spinners. May be in Srilanka we can add kully and Varun.

 

[Devadwal]

Pakistan unit had so many horrendous collapses last year. Won't rule out a below 100 all out scenario. IN T20 nowadays they target certain bowlers while seeing off other bowlers. Also teams like England employ reverse sweep heavily. India should go with balanced attack. NO need of overloading spinners. May be in Srilanka we can add kully and Varun.

In Lankan conditions spinners are going to play Major role, that's why Pakistan can add Tariq and Abrar together but in this case they need to drop one pacer and play Faheem as second pacer. That's enough.

For india - Pakistan game , india definitely Play Kuldeep and Varun together, and drop arshdeep/ Harshit. Bumrah, Pandya and Dube ji can do the job .

 

[mon858]

No batting depth and lower middle order is full of inexperienced player's .

How much depth do you need to last 20 overs. In the XI I presented there is batting till 7. Beyond that Shaheen and others could at least hang around for 1 or 2 overs with batter at other end.
Its better than someone eating 50 balls to score 60 not out, then have 3 guys scoring 70 to 80 on those 50 balls.
Also, unless they magically turn around pitches we shouldn't be seeing many 200+ flat batting tracks.
If we really feel super insecure about batting depth then an option is to play Faheem as second pacer and bowl only 1 or 2 overs of him as needed and essentially bowl 15 overs of spin among Abrar, Saim, Usman, Nawaz, Shadab.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Drop Shadab for Tariq against Big teams.

 

[jnaveen1980]

In Lankan conditions spinners are going to play Major role, that's why Pakistan can add Tariq and Abrar together but in this case they need to drop one pacer and play Faheem as second pacer. That's enough.

For india - Pakistan game , india definitely Play Kuldeep and Varun together, and drop arshdeep/ Harshit. Bumrah, Pandya and Dube ji can do the job .

Obviously. ABhishek can bowl as well. Another 33/9 hopefully.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Shufiyan Muqim had the exact same hype as India had not seen him. Now he is getting butchered by B string teams.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

From last playing 11, Shaheen, shadab out, Usman Faheem in

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Faheem Ashraf should be in the XI as 3rd seam option if needed. That’s what QG were doing with him and playing both Abrar and Usman.

Babar out
Fakhar (unfortunately) out


Faheem+Usman in.


Your last issue is Nafay. He needs to be in the XI. I would take a punt and drop Shadab for him.

Farhan
Saim
Agha
Usman
Nawaz
Nafay
Faheem
Shaheen
Salman
Abrar
Usman

Babar can field for Usman once he’s done his 4 overs. Shadab can come in for Abrar when he’s done his 4 overs

Both are terrible fielders

maybe drop Shaheen and replace him with Shadab, he will bring some batting depth also he is a very good fielder

 

[Cricket Warrior]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2016934498634461576

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Both can play with Nawaz as the third and Saim as 4th option. 2 pacers in Shaheen and Salman would be enough in SL. Spinners open the bowling usually there. Can Remember 2012 wt20 when Pak used 18 overs of spin against Aus.

 

[BouncerGuy]

ATM, against Australia, there is no need to bring in Usman. Maybe PCB wants to unleash him in the world cup stright.

Abrar is your frontline bowler for sure and should be the head of the spinners' lineup. If we have to bring in Usman also, we must drop shadab or maybe drop 1 pacer.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Both Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq have a strong case as Pakistan’s frontline spinner for the T20 World Cup 2026, as Abrar impressed with his 3/14 and economical spell of 4.66, while Usman Tariq’s 2/16 in just 2.4 overs showed his wicket-taking ability and control, making them both valuable options in the attack.

 

[CricVet]

Since Usman is taller and a side arm action, the trajectory won’t be easy to deal with in the PP. I would rather him bowling in PP than Abrar.

Abrar should be bowling with an older ball in my opinion. Saim and Usman in PP - lots of carom balls and pauses to figure out for the bats.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

I think we shouldn't play Usman now until the India match, to keep the surprise element and to not have the usual suspects start crying and have him stop playing/tested during the world cup. However If I remember correctly he has already been tested and everything was fine.

 

[Devadwal]

ATM, against Australia, there is no need to bring in Usman. Maybe PCB wants to unleash him in the world cup stright.

Abrar is your frontline bowler for sure and should be the head of the spinners' lineup. If we have to bring in Usman also, we must drop shadab or maybe drop 1 pacer.

Don't worry he is not going called by umpire for chuking because umpire are Pakistani.