Pakistan’s emerging spinner Usman Tariq has recently become the talk of the cricketing world, with both current and former players, as well as fans, admiring his distinctive bowling action and clever variations.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup clash against India, even the Indian team appeared cautious of his skills. Tariq revealed that before fully committing to cricket, he was working a regular job, but watching former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni inspired him to return to the sport.
Speaking at a press conference before Pakistan’s group-stage match against Namibia, Tariq said that Dhoni had been his role model and watching him motivated his comeback to cricket.
Reflecting on the Pakistan-India match, he admitted he was not entirely satisfied with his bowling performance and felt he could have done better. He also noted that India had developed a specific plan to avoid giving him wickets, and knowing they had prepared especially for him boosted his confidence.
Tariq emphasized that his focus is always on winning matches rather than targeting individual opponents. He also praised Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, saying a single poor performance does not diminish their talent, as both have repeatedly helped Pakistan win crucial matches under pressure.
