Usman Tariq’s journey from working jobs in Dubai to earning a spot in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad highlights years of struggle, breakthrough performances and captain Salman Ali Agha calling him the team’s potential X-factor.
By MediaBites | Sports Desk – BBC Uru
Pakistan’s newest T20 World Cup squad member, 28-year-old spinner Usman Tariq, has travelled a remarkable road — from working odd jobs in Dubai to becoming one of the country’s most talked-about bowling prospects.
Years ago, Tariq repeatedly told his local club captain in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, that he wanted to quit his job abroad and return home to pursue cricket.
“I want to come back to Pakistan, play cricket and dismiss big players. I can’t keep doing this job in Dubai,” he had said.
Friends warned him that the move was risky. A stable job was rare, and chances in professional cricket were even rarer. But in 2017, he returned anyway — determined to restart his career from local grounds.
Struggles before breakthrough
For several years, success did not come easily. Then opportunities slowly appeared — and Tariq grabbed them.
His big breakthrough came in the Caribbean Premier League, where he took 20 wickets in 10 matches, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker and catching national selectors’ attention.
He was called up in November 2025 against South Africa, picking up two wickets in his debut T20I. Soon after, a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi turned him into a national talking point.
Controversy and captain’s backing
During a series against Australia, rival batter Cameron Green mocked Tariq’s bowling action, sparking debate over its legality. However, the action has twice been cleared in official testing.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has now publicly defended him, calling Tariq the team’s potential “X-factor” in the World Cup.
“I don’t understand why his action is questioned. It has been tested twice,” the captain said in Colombo.
A story of persistence
From labour work overseas to international cricket, Tariq’s journey reflects persistence over security — a gamble that ultimately paid off.
Now, as Pakistan heads into the T20 World Cup, the spinner once told to keep his job may instead carry the hopes of a nation’s bowling attack.
54 Comments
I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
obviously like your website however you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to inform the truth on the other hand I will certainly come back again.
I’ve recently started a blog, the info you offer on this website has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
I view something truly special in this internet site.
Great blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
You made some respectable factors there. I appeared on the web for the issue and located most individuals will go together with together with your website.
I have recently started a web site, the info you offer on this website has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. thanks
I rattling glad to find this internet site on bing, just what I was searching for : D too saved to favorites.
I believe this site has some very superb info for everyone. “The penalty of success is to be bored by the attentions of people who formerly snubbed you.” by Mary Wilson Little.
Hey very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find so many useful information here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
Hi there would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at a honest price? Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!
Thanks for helping out, fantastic info .
Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your website in internet explorer, would test thisK IE nonetheless is the marketplace chief and a good component of people will leave out your fantastic writing because of this problem.
Very good written story. It will be helpful to anybody who utilizes it, as well as myself. Keep up the good work – i will definitely read more posts.
Very great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing for your feed and I hope you write again soon!
I view something really special in this web site.
This web site is known as a stroll-by for all of the data you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and also you’ll positively discover it.
It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Keep working ,splendid job!
Wohh precisely what I was searching for, regards for putting up.
Yay google is my king helped me to find this great site! .
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your web site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this blog. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What a perfect web site.
I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site :).
Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any helpful hints for first-time blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.
I really like your writing style, excellent information, thankyou for putting up :D.
We’re a bunch of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with useful information to paintings on. You have done a formidable activity and our whole neighborhood will likely be thankful to you.
Thank you for every one of your efforts on this website. Gloria really likes doing investigation and it is easy to understand why. I notice all relating to the compelling mode you offer practical tips and hints via this web site and as well as cause participation from other ones on the concept while our favorite child is certainly being taught a lot of things. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the year. You’re doing a fantastic job.
Perfect piece of work you have done, this website is really cool with fantastic info .
Just wanna state that this is very helpful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
Howdy! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Exceptional blog and brilliant design and style.
hello!,I really like your writing so a lot! proportion we communicate extra approximately your article on AOL? I require an expert on this house to unravel my problem. Maybe that’s you! Taking a look ahead to look you.
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was once a entertainment account it. Glance complicated to far brought agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
I think this website contains some really excellent info for everyone :D.
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its helped me. Good job.
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?
I believe this is one of the so much vital info for me. And i am happy reading your article. But want to remark on some normal things, The web site taste is ideal, the articles is in reality great :D. Good job, cheers
I’d need to verify with you here. Which isn’t something I normally do! I enjoy studying a put up that will make individuals think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Some genuinely nice and utilitarian info on this internet site, besides I think the style and design holds fantastic features.
As I website owner I conceive the content material here is real good, appreciate it for your efforts.
Glad to be one of several visitants on this amazing website : D.
I am extremely inspired along with your writing talents as well as with the layout for your weblog. Is that this a paid theme or did you customize it your self? Either way stay up the nice high quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice weblog like this one today..
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact used to be a entertainment account it. Look complex to far delivered agreeable from you! However, how can we be in contact?
Hi my loved one! I wish to say that this post is amazing, great written and include almost all significant infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog centered on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.
You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. All the time go after your heart.
I take pleasure in, result in I found exactly what I used to be taking a look for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
I discovered your weblog site on google and check a number of of your early posts. Proceed to keep up the excellent operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Looking for ahead to reading extra from you later on!…
Perfect work you have done, this website is really cool with wonderful information.
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
I’m still learning from you, while I’m improving myself. I definitely liked reading all that is posted on your site.Keep the tips coming. I loved it!
Just wanna comment on few general things, The website style is perfect, the written content is really good : D.