Pakistan have unleashed a new mystery spinner ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Usman Tariq, who has only one appearance in professional cricket, made his debut for Quetta Gladiators against Multan Sultans on Sunday. In a high-scoring affair, Tariq was effective as he conceded 27 runs.
Tariq, the mystery spinner, also retained his spot for Quetta Gladiators against Karachi Kings on Thursday. And it did not take him long to register his first wicket in PSL as he trapped Tim Seifert in front in the first delivery of the match. His stakes grew higher when he dismissed James Vince five balls later as the English batter caught an edge with a ball that turned away from him.
Watch the dismissals here:
Usman Tariq's double-strike in his first over! ⚡⚡#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #KKvQG pic.twitter.com/2MJ4Khoksf
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 29, 2024
“He (Taqir) has a carrom ball and on top of that, he is accurate. The spin is so subtle that it is just enough to beat the bat,” told former Pakistan skipper Misbah on A Sports. “For the right-handers, he is difficult to face,” he adds.
“If you play him like an off-spinner where the ball comes back in which we have tried and seen but all the batters make the same mistake when we think he is delivering the carrom ball. We try to play him in-line we plant our foot to play but him that subtle turn will get to you LBW or bowled.” Misbah explains. “When you are facing your first or second ball as a batter in your innings even if you pick it you will make a mistake some way or the other.”
Tariq is looked at as a special talent not only because of his ability to turn the ball both ways but also his extremely unusual action which sees him stop and then gradually release the ball. He made his professional debut in 2003 featuring for Peshawar in National T20 Cup. However, he went wicketless in that match, eventually scalping his first two wickets in his second appearance in the PSL 2024.
Before featuring for Peshawar, he also appeared for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s second XI in T20 and red ball matches. He was signed by Quetta before the tournament as a replacement for Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.
