“Inspired me...”- Know how Pakistan’s mystery spinner returns to cricket from enjoying MS Dhoni’s biopic
Know how the mystery spinner of the Pakistan cricket team, Usman Tariq, returns to cricket during the T20I series against South Africa after enjoying the biopic of the former World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni, The Untold Story.
Pakistan’s mystery spinner, Usman Tariq, has revealed how he made a remarkable return to the game after being inspired by the biopic of the former World Cup-winning captain of the Indian side, MS Dhoni, which reignited his passion for the sport after being away from the game for several years.
The 27-year-old spinner, Usman Tariq, has earned his maiden call-up to the squad for the three-match T20I series against South Africa at home. He left a stable job in Dubai to give his cricketing dream one last shot. In 36 T20S, the right-arm spinner has picked up 54 wickets at an average of 18.07 and a strike rate of 15.70 with an economy rate of under seven, thanks to three four-wicket hauls at the best figures of 4/17.
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“I left the game after I did not get selected, and I was working as a salesman in a purchasing company in Dubai. Then I watched MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, and it inspired me a lot. I left the job and came back to Pakistan to pursue cricket again.” Tariq expressed during a recent interaction on Telecom Asia Sport.
Pakistan’s Usman Tariq takes inspiration from MS Dhoni’s biopic- The Untold Story
Tariq was excellent for the Trinbago Knight Riders during the 2025 season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He bagged 20 wickets in 10 innings at an average of under 14 and a strike rate of 11.4 with an economy rate of 7.31, thanks to a couple of four-wicket hauls at the best figures of 4/33 in an inning. He finished only behind Imran Tahir in the list.
“I was born with a unique right elbow that has two corners. I just want to play for Pakistan and perform. It took a long time to reach here, but every setback has made me stronger.” Tariq added in the discussion.
The spinner has a unique action that has caught plenty of attention and controversy. He comes and pauses dramatically in his delivery stride before completing the halt and hurling the ball with a side-arm flick movement like the veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin. In the opening T20I in Rawalpindi, he didn't get chance to feature against the Proteas.
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