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| Born | (1995-06-07)7 June 1995 (age 30) Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-armoff break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| T20I debut (cap 124) | 1 November 2025 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 15 February 2026 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I shirt no. | 76 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Quetta Gladiators | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Deccan Gladiators | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Trinbago Knight Riders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025/26 | Desert Vipers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:ESPNcricinfo,31 December 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Usman Tariq (born 7 June 1995)[1] is a Pakistaniinternationalcricketer, who is a right-armoff spinner. He made hisT20I debut againstSouth Africa atLahore in November 2025.
Usman Tariq was born on 7 June 1995 inNowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. He later moved to theUnited Arab Emirates, where he worked as a salesman for a purchasing company, after quitting cricket.[2] He returned to the sport after watching theMS Dhoni biopic,M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016).[3]
After leavingDubai, a friend introduced him to Pakistan openerFakhar Zaman, who took him to a local coach inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa and later to former Pakistan cricketerWajahatullah Wasti for further coaching.[2]
In December 2023, Tariq was picked byQuetta Gladiators following the players' draft to play for them in the2024 Pakistan Super League.[4]
In September 2025, Tariq played forTrinbago Knight Riders in the2025 Caribbean Premier League. He helped his side to the title and ranked second on the wicket charts with 20 dismissals, trailingImran Tahir (23) despite playing 10 matches to Tahir’s 12.[5]
In October 2025, Tariq made his debut for Pakistan in the third T20I of thehome series against South Africa. He ended with 2/26 in 4 overs, including the wicket ofDewald Brevis, who had looked dangerous, in his first over.[6]
In November 2025, in the fourth match of thePakistan T20I Tri-Series, Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe to secure a place in the final. Tariq claimed ahat-trick and finished with a match-winning spell of 4/18 that dismantled Zimbabwe’s top order. He was declaredPlayer of the Match.[7]
In February 2026, IND vs PAK 27th Match, ICC Men's T20 World Cup, The decisive moment came in the 18.5 over when Usman Tariq, bowling the final ball of his spell, dismissed Suryakumar Yadav. Attempting an aggressive shot over mid-wicket, Yadav mistimed the delivery on the slow surface and was caught by Saim Ayub at deep mid-wicket. He scored 32 off 29 balls, including three boundaries. Tariq finished with figures of 4–0–24–1, maintaining an economy rate of 6.00.[8]
Usman Tariq, a key Pakistani spinner in the 2026 T20 World Cup, found inspiration from the biopicM.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, which motivated him to pursue cricket after initially working as a salesman in Dubai. Known for his unique double-jointed bowling action, Usman has emerged as an "X-factor" for Pakistan, with 11 wickets in four T20Is, including a hat-trick against Zimbabwe. Despite facing scrutiny over his action, which was twice reported as illegal, Usman’s bowling has been cleared by the ICC, and he has become a vital weapon for Pakistan in the tournament.[9]
Tariq is anoff-spinner who is known for anAshwin-like pause in his run-up and acarrom ball variation.[10]
Tariq was reported for a suspect bowling action in bothPSL 2024 and2025. Tariq said hisbaseball-style action results from a natural anatomical condition that causes a pronounced bend in his arm, and that medical testing cleared him.[11] In May 2025, he passed aPakistan Cricket Board (PCB) biomechanics lab assessment inLahore and was cleared to bowl.[12][13] Still,Tom Banton questioned his action during the2025 ILT20.[2] In 2026, Australia all-rounderCameron Green mimicked Tariq's round-arm action during a T20 series in Lahore after getting out.[2]
In 2026, Indian cricketerRavichandran Ashwin and umpireAnil Chaudhary stated that Tariq's bowling action was within the rules.[2]
