Kandy (Sri Lanka), Feb 23 (NationPress) England's left-arm spinner Liam Dawson has stated that the two-time champions will not be influenced by the buzz surrounding Pakistan's mystery spinner Usman Tariq ahead of their crucial T20 World Cup Super Eights matchup on Tuesday. He emphasized that the visitors are ready to face the complete spectrum of their opponents' spin options.

Following their 51-run win over co-hosts Sri Lanka, a victory against Pakistan would ensure England a top-two finish in their Super Eights group, securing a spot in the semifinals. However, there are lingering concerns regarding England's susceptibility to spin, as four of their top five batsmen fell prey to Sri Lankan spin bowlers in their last match, raising alarms ahead of facing a Pakistan team that includes Tariq, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, and Mohammad Nawaz.

Tariq has become the tournament's most discussed spinner, particularly due to his distinctive pause before delivering his off-breaks. England captain Harry Brook has even been seen mimicking Tariq's unconventional bowling style during practice sessions. Nonetheless, Dawson, who is experienced in limited-overs cricket, mentioned that the team's attention must extend beyond just one player.

“It’s not only about Tariq. They are a strong team with several potent players, and Tariq is undoubtedly a talented bowler. However, we won’t focus exclusively on him. Our strategy is to assess the entire team and find ways to counter them,” Dawson remarked to the media before the match.

Dawson, alongside Will Jacks and Adil Rashid, collectively took seven wickets as Sri Lanka was dismissed for just 95 runs in reply to England’s score of 146/9. He noted that the diversity within England’s spin bowling lineup has been crucial to their achievements thus far.

“We all have unique spinning styles. Jacksy generates significant overspin and bounce, while Dilly (Rashid) employs numerous variations. As for me, I tend to be less bouncy than the other two. Tuesday night presents a new challenge. We might encounter a better batting surface, but we will see how it unfolds,” he explained.

“Among the three or four of us, I consider myself more of a defensive spinner, and I recognize that this is my designated role. I aim to maintain consistency for the captain. Adil can utilize all his skills to secure wickets and turn the game in our favor,” he added.

“We have a wealth of experience. When you consider the amount of cricket both Adil and I have played, along with Jacks, it's primarily Beth who has slightly less experience. However, there's substantial trust in the players to carry out the strategies that we want to implement,” he concluded.