In a story straight out of a Bollywood script, Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq has revealed that his journey to international cricket began not on a pitch, but in a cinema hall. The 27-year-old, who has earned his maiden call-up for Pakistan’s three-match T20I series, says he gave up a stable job in Dubai after watching M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, the biopic of India’s World Cup-winning captain.
I left the game after I did not get selected and started working as a salesman in a purchasing company in Dubai. One day, I watched M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, and it inspired me a lot. I left the job and went back to Pakistan to pursue cricket again.
Now, nearly five years later, Tariq is on the cusp of a dream debut for his country.
CPL Breakthrough and a Unique Bowling Style
Tariq’s resurgence began in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) earlier this year, where he picked up 20 wickets, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament — behind only South Africa’s Imran Tahir. His variations, accuracy, and unorthodox style quickly caught the eye of selectors. But what truly sets Tariq apart is his distinctive bowling action. At the point of delivery, he pauses for up to two seconds, almost freezing mid-motion before releasing the ball with a whipping side-arm action.
“It looks somewhat like Ravichandran Ashwin’s action,” says one observer, “but Tariq’s pause is much longer and far more exaggerated.”
That unusual style has led to controversy. Tariq’s action was first reported during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and again when he played for Quetta Gladiators in 2024. However, after undergoing biomechanical testing in Lahore, he was cleared by experts and allowed to continue.
Born Different, Bowling Different
Tariq insists that his peculiar action stems from a natural deformity in his right elbow, not from any attempt to gain an unfair advantage.
I am born with a unique right elbow which has two corners instead of one. That’s just how my arm is.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) tightened its regulations on bowling actions in recent years, disallowing deformities as a mitigating factor — a rule change that came after legendary bowlers like Muttiah Muralitharan and Shoaib Akhtar were cleared due to medical conditions. Despite those stricter standards, Tariq’s case was reviewed carefully, and his action was deemed legal and naturally unique.
Determined to Prove Himself
Having battled rejection, injury scares, and scrutiny over his bowling, Tariq remains remarkably calm about the prospect of his debut.
I just want to play for Pakistan and perform. It took a long time to reach here, but every setback has made me stronger.
If he gets his cap this week, it will complete a remarkable journey — from a salesman in Dubai to one of Pakistan’s most talked-about new cricketers.
