Usman Tariq vs Jude Bellingham: Cricket meets football in fun The Hundred duel

Jude Bellingham swapped football for cricket in a fun challenge against Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq during The Hundred, with the entertaining crossover quickly going viral.Usman Tariq and Jude Bellingham at The Hundred. Courtesy: Birmingham Phoenix/ReutersIt is not every day that one of football's biggest stars swaps boots for a cricket bat. But that is exactly what happened at The Hundred as Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham stepped into the crease to face Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq in a light-hearted challenge that delighted fans.With players and support staff watching from behind the pitch, Tariq rolled his arm over while Bellingham confidently took guard, producing an entertaining crossover between two of the world's most popular sports. There was no official winner, and that hardly mattered. The clip quickly went viral, with fans enjoying the rare sight of a Champions League-winning footballer testing himself against one of Pakistan's most talked-about mystery spinners.Bellingham's appearance was fitting given his growing association with The Hundred. The England football star recently acquired a minority stake in Birmingham Phoenix as part of the tournament's new investment model, strengthening his ties with the franchise and the city where he began his football journey with Birmingham City.BELLINGHAM MEETS BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX’S MYSTERY SPINNERThe challenge also shone the spotlight on Usman Tariq, who has become one of the most intriguing overseas signings in The Hundred 2026. The Pakistan spinner was snapped up by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000 after attracting interest at the player auction, with his unusual stop-start bowling action making him one of the competition's biggest talking points. Although Tariq's action has sparked debate among batters and pundits alike, it has also made him a fascinating bowler to watch. The 31-year-old recently defended his action, insisting that it is for the umpires—not opposition players—to judge its legality.For one afternoon, however, there were no appeals or controversies—just plenty of smiles. Whether Bellingham middled every ball or Tariq sneaked one past him was almost beside the point. Tariq may have won plenty of admirers in his fun duel with Bellingham, but things have been far tougher in the middle. The Pakistan spinner has managed just two wickets from four matches at an economy rate of 8.40, while Birmingham Phoenix have struggled to get going, losing three of their first four games to find themselves rooted to the bottom of The Hundred table.- EndsPublished By: sabyasachi chowdhuryPublished On: Aug 2, 2026 12:16 IST