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Watching MS Dhoni Biopic Changed My Life: Pakistan Spinner Usman Tariq
Follow UsTariq, years after quitting cricket, is now a part of Pakistan's T20I side
Pakistan off-spinner Usman Tariq has become a household name in T20 cricket thanks to his rather unique action, but Tariq was a very late bloomer, playing his first professional match only a few months before he turned 26.
Most players tend to grind it out in lower levels of the sport before breaking through, but in Tariq’s case, he had given up the sport altogether for several years after being convinced that he would never be able to make a career out of it.
However, that’s when magic happened for the 27-year-old: he stumbled into the biopic of former India skipper MS Dhoni.
“I left the game after I did not get selected, and was working as a salesman in a purchasing company in Dubai. There 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 told Telecom Asia Sport, reported Times of India.
After making his professional debut in November 2023, Tariq has risen quickly through the ranks, becoming a household name in not just the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but also the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). In the most recent edition of the CPL, Tariq was the second-highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets to his name.
However, the journey at the highest level hasn’t been a smooth one for him, with the off-spinner getting called for chucking multiple times due to his unique action. His trademark ‘pause’ before delivery hasn’t helped his case either.
The 27-year-old spoke about his action and how a rare condition makes it look like he’s throwing the ball, when he’s actually not.
“I was born with a unique right elbow which has two corners,” Tariq said.
“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 is currently a part of Pakistan’s T20I squad taking on South Africa in a three-match T20I series. He did not feature in the first game, but could end up making his international debut later this week.