A fresh controversy broke out in the Pakistan Super League 2026 during the clash between Quetta Gladiators and Rawalpindi when Daryl Mitchell briefly refused to face spinner Usman Tariq. The incident took place in the middle overs of the chase at the National Stadium in Karachi, where Tariq’s unusual bowling action, marked by a clear pause before release, appeared to unsettle the batter’s rhythm.

Mitchell repeatedly stepped away from the crease and seemed unwilling to take guard until the issue was sorted. The brief stand-off interrupted play for a few moments and forced the umpires to step in, trying to calm the situation and restore order.

The moment quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the match, sparking debate among fans, commentators and viewers over whether Tariq’s action was legal, fair, or simply too disruptive for a batter to handle.

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On air, Raja noted that the matter had to be handled by the officials and suggested Mitchell should have been better prepared for the contest. The exchange added another layer of tension to an already intense PSL fixture.

Daryl Mitchell twice pulls out of facing Usman Tariq 😂🤣😭 pic.twitter.com/HlDgOWMlPs

— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoor_ze) April 10, 2026

Even with the drama, Quetta Gladiators stayed firmly in control. They posted a strong 182 for 6, powered by Rilee Rossouw’s composed 53 and useful support from Saud Shakeel. Rawalpindi never quite recovered in reply and were eventually outplayed in the chase.

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Usman Tariq also backed up the attention around him with a strong bowling performance, finishing with figures of 2 for 23 and dismissing Mitchell in the process. The incident has also reignited discussion around earlier observations from Ravichandran Ashwin, who had pointed out that batters may legally pull away if a bowler’s action disrupts their timing. Even though Tariq’s action has been cleared, the debate around it is clearly far from over.