Usman Tariq

Usman Tariq is a right-arm off-break bowler who has recently entered the professional cricket arena. Knowing his potential, he was encouraged to join a local academy in the area and started honing his skills and building a stronger foundation.

He started his journey like every other player, playing with a tape ball and tennis balls. The rich cricketing culture in the region successfully ignited a fire for cricket in Tariq’s heart. 

Usman Tariq Domestic Career

The first breakthrough in Usman Tariq’s professional career was his T20 debut for the Peshawar Region, where he bowled his full quota of four overs, with an excellent economy of 5.50, but couldn’t tick the wicket column.

Tariq made his First-Class debut for Eshaal Associates against the Higher Education Commission. He bowled three maiden overs and bagged a crucial wicket of Mehmood Nawaz Afridi in the first innings. He got much better in his second inning as he picked up a five-wicket haul and completed his second-inning figure at 5/62. 

In December 2023, Usman Tariq was picked by the Quetta Gladiators during the players' draft for the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).

This selection marked a significant milestone in his budding career, providing him with a platform to showcase his skills on a national stage. Tariq's emergence in Pakistani cricket underscores the continuous influx of talent within the country's cricketing landscape. 

Usman Tariq T20I Career

Usman Tariq made his debut for Pakistan on November 01, 2025, 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.

During the same series, in the fourth match of the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series, 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.

Usman Tariq Bowling Action

Tariq is widely known for an unconventional "stop-and-pause" side-arm bowling action that disrupts batter timing. He pauses in his delivery stride to observe the batter before releasing the ball, utilising variations such as a carrom ball, an arm ball, and a leg cutter at speeds of 74.5–82 kph. 

Notably, Tariq’s action has been reported as suspicious twice to date. First, during the 2024 PSL, and in the following season as well. Interestingly, both the times he was cleared after testing at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

(As of May 2026)