T20 World Cup
\nDouble-jointed spinner Tariq credits 2016 Bollywood movie \u2018M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story\u2019 for his cricketing career
\n Islamabad
\nPakistan\u2019s Usman Tariq left his cricket ambitions back home to start a salesman\u2019s job in Dubai, before a biopic about India great Mahendra Singh Dhoni changed his life.
\nThe unusual bowling action of the double-jointed spinner has created plenty of chatter in his first T20 World Cup, and now he goes into Sunday\u2019s revived clash against India as one of Pakistan\u2019s main weapons.
\nHis inspiration was born in India and Tariq admits if he had not watched the 2016 Bollywood movie \u201cM.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story\u201d he might not be playing cricket today.
\nBased on the life of India\u2019s World Cup-winning captain, the movie told a tale of grit, rejection and eventual glory \u2014 and made Tariq believe it was never too late to chase his ambition.
\nTariq, now 30, left Dubai and roamed around the world to mature as a mystery spinner.
\nPakistan skipper Salman Agha insisted Tariq will be a special weapon when his side face their arch-rivals India on February 15.
\n\u201cTariq is our X-factor and a key weapon,\u201d Agha said ahead of the tournament after Pakistan had used him sparingly to protect his unique action.
\nSince making his international debut just three months ago, Tariq has taken 11 wickets in four T20 internationals including a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi.
\nHe grabbed a match-defining 3-27 against USA in Colombo on his World Cup debut this week.
\nControversial action
\nThe 28-year-old\u2019s bizarre bowling action was reported as illegal twice in the last two years, but was cleared by the International Cricket Council laboratory.
\nHis action carries an element of mystery as he pauses exaggeratedly before releasing the ball in a sling-shot manner.
\nEngland\u2019s Tom Banton questioned Tariq\u2019s action in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) T20 League last year.
\nAustralia all-rounder Cameron Green mimicked Tariq\u2019s round-arm during the T20 series before the World Cup in Lahore, raising renewed doubts.
\nBut India player Ravichandaran Ashwin, himself a great spinner, and umpire Anil Chaudhary declared Tariq\u2019s bowling action to be within the rules.
\n\u201cI believe that it is entirely legal,\u201d Ashwin wrote on X, by explaining several factors of the action.
\nTariq is unperturbed by the doubters.
\n\u201cI have two corners of my bowling arm elbow, which is rare,\u201d Tariq told AFP.
\n\u201cI have been cleared twice so I am confident that it\u2019s legal.
\n\u201cI have struggled this far and am not worried about such baseless questions.\u201d
\nMaking a name
\nAfter Tariq left Dubai a friend introduced him to Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman who took him to a local coach in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, his hometown.
\n\u201cZaman brought this young and determined boy to me,\u201d Wajahatullah Wasti, a former Pakistan player, told AFP.
\n\u201cI watched him bowl with amazement as he looked very unique and I advised him to bowl a little quicker. Today he has made a name for himself.\u201d
\nTariq talked about the Dhoni biopic that changed everything.
\n\u201cI had left behind thinking of making a name in cricket, but one day I watched this film and it convinced me that I can also do the same,\u201d Tariq told AFP.
\nTariq progressed by leaps and bounds.
\nHe finished with 20 wickets in the Caribbean Premier League last year, forcing his way into the Pakistan team.
\n\u201cMy coach informed me about my selection in the Pakistan team while I was busy with my wedding last year and initially I thought it was a prank,\u201d said Tariq.
\n\u201cBut it was true so I think my wife brought luck for me.\u201d
\nFrom a salesman in Dubai to Pakistan\u2019s potential trump card against India, Tariq\u2019s script is still being written.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
T20 World Cup Double-jointed spinner Tariq credits 2016 Bollywood movie \u2018M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story\u2019 for his cricketing career Islamabad Pakistan\u2019s Usman Tariq left his cricket ambitions back home to start a salesman\u2019s job in Dubai, before a biopic about India great Mahendra Singh Dhoni changed his life. The unusual bowling action of the double-jointed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":531297,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-531281","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n