Home / Sports / Dhoni Movie Inspired Pakistan's Mystery Spinner
Dhoni Movie Inspired Pakistan's Mystery Spinner
13 Feb
Summary
- Usman Tariq's unusual bowling action sparked controversy but was cleared.
- A Bollywood biopic inspired his return to cricket from a sales job.
- He has taken 11 wickets in four T20 internationals since debuting.
Pakistan's emerging cricketer, Usman Tariq, boasts an unusual bowling action that has garnered significant attention at his first T20 World Cup. His journey to the international stage is unconventional; he left his cricket aspirations behind for a sales job in Dubai. A pivotal moment arrived with the viewing of the 2016 Bollywood movie "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story."
The film, chronicling the resilience and success of India's cricket icon, reignited Tariq's determination to pursue his passion. Now 30, he spent time traveling globally to hone his skills as a mystery spinner. His unique, double-jointed action, characterized by an exaggerated pause and sling-shot release, has faced scrutiny and been reported twice, yet has consistently received clearance from the International Cricket Council.
Despite doubts from opponents like England's Tom Banton and Australia's Cameron Green, Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly supported the legality of Tariq's bowling. Tariq himself remains unfazed, stating his action is legal and has been cleared. He has quickly become a significant asset to the Pakistan team, taking 11 wickets in four T20 internationals since his debut three months ago, including a hat-trick against Zimbabwe and a match-defining 3-27 against USA in his World Cup debut.
