Usman Tariq (cricketer, born 1995)
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 7 June 1995 Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 124) | 1 November 2025 v South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 23 November 2025 v Zimbabwe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I shirt no. | 76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Quetta Gladiators | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Deccan Gladiators | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Trinbago Knight Riders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 1 November 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Usman Tariq (born 7 June 1995)[1] is a Pakistani international cricketer, who is a right-arm off spinner. He made his T20I debut against South Africa at Lahore in November 2025.
Early life
Usman Tariq was born on 7 June 1995 in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Early in his life, he moved to the United Arab Emirates and worked as a salesman for a purchasing company, having quit cricket, but returned to it after watching the, and being inspired by, the MS Dhoni biopic, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016).[2]
Domestic and franchise career
In December 2023, Tariq was picked by Quetta Gladiators following the players' draft to play for them in the 2024 Pakistan Super League.[3]
In September 2025, Tariq played for Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2025 Caribbean Premier League. He helped his side to the title and ranked second on the wicket charts with 20 dismissals, trailing Imran Tahir (23) despite playing 10 matches to Tahir’s 12.[4]
International career
In October 2025, Tariq made his debut for Pakistan in the third T20I of the home series against South Africa. He ended with 2/26 in 4 overs, including the wicket of Dewald Brevis, who had looked dangerous, in his first over.[5]
In November 2025, in the fourth match of the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series, Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe to secure a place in the final. Tariq claimed a hat-trick and finished with a match-winning spell of 4/18 that dismantled Zimbabwe’s top order. He was declared Player of the Match.[6]
Playing style
Tariq is an off-spinner who has been noted for his Ashwin-like pause in the run-up and carrom-ball variation.[7]
Bowling action
Tariq was reported for a suspect bowling action in both PSL 2024 and 2025, but says his unusual, baseball-style action stems from a natural anatomical condition, he claims he effectively has “two elbows” causing a natural bend, and that medical testing has cleared him.[8] In May 2025, he passed a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) biomechanics lab assessment in Lahore and was cleared to bowl.[9][10]
References
- ^ "Usman Tariq". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ Kumar, Ankit (30 October 2025). "After watching MS Dhoni's biopic, a Pakistani player quit his job to pursue cricket; now set to play for Pakistan".
- ^ "Teams complete squads as PSL 9 Players Draft concludes". A Sports. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Caribbean Premier League 2025 – Records – Most wickets (career)". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ Rasool, Danyal (3 November 2025). "Babar 68, Shaheen three-for headline Pakistan's 2-1 series win". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ Rasool, Danyal (23 November 2025). "Babar 74, Tariq hat-trick take Pakistan into final". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
- ^ Sports Desk (1 March 2024). "Pakistan unearth new mystery spinner: Watch him stop in run-up before foxing batsmen with subtle spin". The Indian Express. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ^ "'I have two elbows in my arm' – PSL bowler explains unusual action after being reported". Wisden. Wisden. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ^ "Usman Tariq cleared to bowl again". The Express Tribune. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ^ "Usman Tariq cleared of suspect bowling action amid PSL 10". Geo Super. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.