PAK bowler Usman Tariq has been in the news off late
The mystery spinner has a T20I hat-trick to his name
Tariq could be PAK's key asset during their game against IND at the WC
Mystery spinner Usman Tariq has been Pakistan's secret weapon at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as the 27-year-old looks to bring silverware to the Pakistani shores. Tariq, who has been scrutinized for his bowling action, registered a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi last year.
His T20 debut came for Peshawar in the National T20 Cup in November 2023 and then went on to feature in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), but failed to make an impact. However, a strong bowling performance in the 2024-25 domestic season, saw him gain few eyeballs where he picked 22 wickets in 15 matches.
However, his bowling action came under scrutiny twice, first during the PSL 2024 season. After being cleared at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, Tariq again came under the limelight for suspect bowling action in the following PSL season. However, he was again cleared for the same.
Post that, Tariq went on to play for Quetta Gladiators in their PSL 2025 final, taking 10 wickets in five matches. In the CPL, he scalped 20 wickets in 10 matches for Trinbago Knight Riders, wherein he finished as second-highest wicket-taker.
On his T20I debut for Pakistan, Tariq took two wickets as he helped the Men In Green restricting South Africa for 139/9 and followed it up with a hat-trick against Zimbabwe, wherein he finished with figures of 4/18.
Tariq At T20 World Cup 2026
Usman Tariq has played just a solitary game for Pakistan so far in the tournament, and managed to pick three wickets, in their 32-run victory over USA in their T20 World Cup clash at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Tuesday (February 10).
Tariq finished with figures of 3/24 in four overs as his bowling dismantled the USA batters in the day-and-night game.
Reactions To Tariq's Bowling Action
With India playing Pakistan on Feb 15 in Colombo, Tariq has become the talk of the cricketing world, with former England captain Kevin Pietersen terming the pause while loading action illegal while India great Ravichandran Ashwin possessed a contrarian view.
"Okay, let me make it as clear as possible. Firstly, the legalities of his action can only be tested at an ICC bowling action testing Centre," Ashwin said on his 'X' handle.
He added: "Secondly, there is a 15 degree rule under which a bowler needs to keep his elbow and straighten it and to judge if a bowler is bowling within that 15° mark by the on-field Umpire is impossible. The only solution to that is having a real time in competition testing tool. The above is a grey area and to accuse someone for utilising the grey area is wrong."
