Watch: Usman Tariq, unknown mystery spinner with baseball pitcher action, bowls double-wicket over in PSL
The 2024 Pakistan Super League has unearthed a unique talent in the mystery spin of Usman Tariq, a slow bowler with just one professional appearance to his name prior to this year’s tournament.
Tariq, whose age is not listed on any major cricket website (including the PCB’s), made his debut for Quetta Gladiators against Multan Sultans on Sunday (February 25) where he saw his four overs concede 27 runs in an otherwise high-scoring affair.
Tariq retained his spot in the Quetta XI for their following fixture against Karachi Kings today (February 29). It didn’t take long for Tariq to register his first PSL wicket, trapping Tim Seifert in front with his first delivery of the day. His day got even better before the over finished as he claimed the wicket of James Vince five balls later, first beating the English batter’s outside edge with a ball that turned away from the right-hander before pinning him in front of the stumps with a more traditional off-break.
It’s not just Tariq’s ability to turn the ball both ways that caused problems. The PSL newbie possesses an extremely unusual approach to the crease, one that sees him almost stop completely in his gather.
Tariq only make his professional debut in late 2023, featuring once for Peshawar in the National T20 Cup. He was wicketless on that occasion, meaning that his double strike in his first over today were his first wickets in professional cricket.
Prior to his outing for Peshawar, Tariq had featured for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s second XI – in both T20 and red-ball matches – in a number of fixtures in 2022. Tariq was only signed by Quetta shortly before the tournament as a partial replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga, who will join the side partway through the tournament.
Check out this action and run-up!
Usman Tariq with his first PSL wicket in just his third game of professional cricket. #PSL2024pic.twitter.com/I6ynrVntpc
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 29, 2024
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