Sports

From a Dubai salesman to Pakistan’s ‘X-factor’ at T20 World Cup: How Dhoni’s biopic inspired Usman Tariq

Published

2 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq left his cricket ambitions back home to start a salesman’s job in Dubai, before a biopic about India great Mahendra Singh Dhoni changed his life.

The 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’s revived clash against India as one of Pakistan’s main weapons.

His inspiration was born in India, and Usman admits that if he had not watched the 2016 Bollywood movie M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, he might not be playing cricket today.

Based on the life of India’s World Cup-winning captain, the movie told a tale of grit, rejection and eventual glory — and made Usman believe it was never too late to chase his ambition.

Usman, now 30, left Dubai and roamed around the world to mature as a mystery spinner.

Pakistan skipper Salman Agha insisted Usman will be a special weapon when his side face their arch-rivals India.

“Usman is our X-factor and a key weapon,” Salman said ahead of the tournament after Pakistan had used him sparingly to protect his unique action.

Since making his international debut just three months ago, Usman has taken 11 wickets in four T20 internationals, including a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi.

He grabbed a match-defining 3-27 against USA in Colombo on his World Cup debut this week.

Controversial action

The 28-year-old’s bizarre bowling action was reported as illegal twice in the last two years, but was cleared by the International Cricket Council laboratory.

His action carries an element of mystery as he pauses exaggeratedly before releasing the ball in a sling-shot manner.

England’s Tom Banton questioned Usman’s action in the United Arab Emirates T20 League last year.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green mimicked Usman’s round-arm during the T20 series before the World Cup in Lahore, raising renewed doubts.

But Indian player Ravichandaran Ashwin, himself a great spinner, and umpire Anil Chaudhary declared Usman’s bowling action to be within the rules.

“I believe that it is entirely legal,” Ravichandaran wrote on X, by explaining several factors of the action.

Usman is unperturbed by the doubters.

“I have two corners of my bowling arm elbow, which is rare,” Usman told AFP.

“I have been cleared twice, so I am confident that it’s legal. I have struggled this far and am not worried about such baseless questions.”

Making a name

After Usman left Dubai, a friend introduced him to Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman, who took him to a local coach in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, his hometown.

“Fakhar brought this young and determined boy to me,” Wajahatullah Wasti, a former Pakistan player, told AFP.

“I 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.”

Usman talked about the Dhoni biopic that changed everything.

“I 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,” Usman told AFP.

Usman progressed by leaps and bounds.

He finished with 20 wickets in the Caribbean Premier League last year, forcing his way into the Pakistan team.

“My 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,” said Usman.

“But it was true, so I think my wife brought luck for me.”

From a salesman in Dubai to Pakistan’s potential trump card against India, Usman’s script is still being written.

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Sports

Zimbabwe pull off shock win over Australia at T20 World Cup

Published

3 hours ago

February 13, 2026

hussainbinnoman3@gmail.com

Zimbabwe beat a depleted Australia by 23 runs on Friday in Colombo to pull off the biggest shock of the T20 World Cup so far.

After posting 169-2 in their 20 overs, thanks mainly to Brian Bennett’s classy 64 not out, Zimbabwe had Australia 29-4 before dismissing them for 146 in 19.3 overs.

The Zimbabweans, ranked 11th were always in control against their second-ranked opponents in the Group B game at R. Premadasa Stadium after opening bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans ripped out Australia’s top order.

There were sensational scenes at the venue as a group of Zimbabwe fans dressed in their team jerseys celebrated the win with a traditional dance.

“It is a huge win for us,” said Bennett.

“There are fans who have come all the way from Zimbabwe and they have enjoyed the game and it is a special feeling today to get a win here.”

Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 4-17.

“I was really happy that today really came off,” said Muzarabani, who was named player of the match.

“I also believe that everyone really bowled well. We missed Richi (Ngarava), but Brad (Evans) really bowled well.

The next step

“It’s really good to beat Australia, but it will also be nice to qualify for the Super Eights. So we’ll be thinking about the next step.”

Australia retained hope of a rearguard victory when Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw put on 77 for the fifth wicket.

But once part-time leg-spinner Ryan Burl induced one of the short game’s great players, Maxwell, to drag on to his stumps for 31, they were never in the hunt and tumbled from 106-4 to 146 all out.

Opening batsman Bennett’s unbeaten 64 off 56 balls was an exercise in controlled aggression as he rarely went the aerial route and found the boundary seven times.

It was the 22-year-old’s 10th half-century in T20 internationals.

“It was the type of wicket you have to do the hard yards,” said Bennett.

Zimbabwe thrashed Oman in their opener and their last two group games will be against Ireland and Sri Lanka.

Co-hosts Sri Lanka have also won both their matches so far.

“We are in a good position to go to the next round having won two out of two,” said Bennett.

Ryan Burl and Bennett put on 70 for the second wicket, a record stand for Zimbabwe in T20 World Cups after an opening partnership of 61 with Tadiwanashe Marumani.

Australia beat Ireland on Wednesday, but with matches to come against Sri Lanka and Oman, another defeat could see them on the plane home after the group stage.

Without their captain Mitchell Marsh for the second match, and the previously ruled out pace spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s campaign in the 20-nation tournament is in danger of falling apart at the first hurdle.

The former champions were left with more to worry as Marcus Stoinis was struck on his left palm attempting a return catch halfway through his third over.

The all-rounder was accompanied off the field in pain. He did come out to bat but scored only six.

“Stoinis was going to bat higher and him not being able to bat higher was a blow,” said Renshaw, who top scored with 65.

“Medical staff will examine how bad is his injury. We weren’t good enough today. There is time for flair in T20 cricket.

“We had to rebuild,” he added.

“But we kept losing wickets at regular intervals. It wasn’t our day and we are bitterly disappointed.”

The only bright spot was power batter Tim David being named in the team after missing the Ireland win.

But he made a two-ball duck in his first game since suffering a hamstring injury in the Big Bash League on December 26.

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Italy dream of cricket ‘in Rome, Milan and Bologna’ after historic win at T20 World Cup

Published

7 hours ago

February 13, 2026

hussainbinnoman3@gmail.com

Italy have ambitions of hosting top-class cricket from Rome to Milan and Bologna after a historic and emotional first T20 World Cup victory.

The lowest-ranked side in the 20-team tournament hammered Nepal by 10 wickets on Thursday at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

The win, in just their second match at their debut T20 World Cup, left some of the Italy players in tears of joy.

Brothers Justin and Anthony Mosca — who hail from Sydney — powered the team’s chase of 124 to achieve a famous triumph with more than seven overs to spare.

None of the Italy team was born in the country far better known for its football than its cricket.

But the victory meant everything to them and after hitting the winning runs, the 34-year-old Anthony raised his arms to the sky, roared and shed a tear.

“I don’t think you’ll see many players cry on the field after a win in the group stages,” stand-in captain Harry Manenti said.

“I think you’ve got to appreciate what Italy cricket is bringing to the game, understand that the passion is slightly different with the Italians.

“We will bring that everywhere we go, no matter the level of the tournament or the level of the opposition.”

Italy’s Justin Mosca celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Nepal and Italy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 12, 2026. — AFP

England loom next, at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Monday.

Italy’s cricket federation says it has about 1,800 players and around 100 clubs, but it is struggling for a natural cricket pitch.

Manenti hopes their World Cup exploits will help change the whole face of the sport in the country.

“We want other teams to host us and build facilities that host them back and that’s our goal as a team,” said Manenti, whose brother Ben also plays for the side. “That will provide opportunities for kids who are currently in Italy learning the game at a school level to see us playing in Rome or Milan or Bologna.”

Italy lost their opener to Scotland by 73 runs but bounced back in style to stun Nepal, who had given heavyweights England a mighty scare on Sunday.

The feat was achieved without South Africa-born skipper Wayne Madsen, who dislocated his shoulder in the Scotland defeat.

Italy is in the middle of the Winter Olympics, but their coach John Davison says the cricket team deserves its moment in the headlines there and beyond.

“This will be front-page news in a lot of countries and a lot of publications in Italy,” said the former Canada captain.

“For us to get that sort of exposure and maybe knock the Winter Olympics off the back page of the sports would be unbelievable for cricket in the country and just bring some attention to us.”

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