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. 

Quetta Gladiators faced a double blow in Match 4 of PSL 2025, suffering a crushing 79-run defeat to Lahore Qalandars at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The matter worsened with the suspect's action report issued by umpires Ahsan Raza and Chris Brown to their young spinner, Usman Tariq. The 24-year-old athlete continues to bowl unless there is another report that requires him to seek ICC-accredited lab approval before returning to play.

Quetta's performance has brightened this season, thanks to Tariq, who secured 3 wickets across 2 matches with an average of 19.00 and an economy rate of 7.12. Sikandar Raza was his first dismissal against Lahore, and Tariq completed the fourth over with one wicket taken at 31 runs. His formerly pristine bowling statistics face evaluation because other authorities have questioned his actions. Future success in his campaign depends on clearing another check on his technique since a second report could end his upcoming opportunity.

Lahore Qalandars ruled the match with 219 runs from their bat while Fakhar Zaman hit a graceful 67 alongside Sam Billings's unstoppable 50* from 19 balls before Abdullah Shafique and Daryl Mitchell contributed additional runs. The run chase of 140 by Quetta Gladiators ended in 16.2 overs, even with Rilee Rossouw's 44-run innings. The trio of Rishad Hossain, Shaheen Afridi, and Sikandar Raza, together with Asif Afridi, propelled Lahore Qalandars to victory with their combined four-wicket haul.

Watch the video of his bowling action

Usman Tariq performances goes under the radar and least discussed. He is the most economical spinner in the circuit. Every dot ball is the piece of gold in T20 cricket. He is still the most difficult to pick and hit in the format.#QGvLQ pic.twitter.com/ngQt9WLfGs

— Ahmer Najeeb Satti (@AhmerNajeeb) April 14, 2025

Also Read: PSL 2025: KAR vs LAH Match 6 - A Head to Head breakdown

Tariq’s Road Ahead

According to the regulations, Usman is permitted to continue bowling in upcoming PSL matches. However, if his action is reported once more, he will face an immediate suspension from bowling and must undergo a reassessment at an ICC-accredited laboratory to gain clearance before returning to play. Usman was initially reported for a suspect bowling action in March 2024 during the previous edition of the Pakistan Super League. It happened three matches into the tournament, but within five days, he was cleared to bowl again after undergoing evaluation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

His bowling style differs from the conventional technique typically used by off-spinners. Notably, he includes a brief pause in his action before releasing the ball and delivers his off-breaks with a distinctive side-arm motion.