Pakistan’s Usman Tariq Sets CPL World Record

Usman Tariq in Trinbago Knight Riders (Source: @KKRWeRule/X)

Often getting himself into the limelight due to his unusual bowling action, Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq set a new world record in the history of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Tariq, 31, scripted history on Tuesday while playing for Trinbago Knight Riders, KKR’s sister franchise in the Caribbean.

After helping Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) win the CPL 2025 title, Tariq was re-signed for the same CPL franchise ahead of the ongoing edition.

Tariq was the second-highest wicket-taker in CPL 2025, having picked up 20 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 7.31. Only Imran Tahir, who had 23 scalps in 12 matches, had more wickets than him last season.

And the Pakistan spinner kept on doing wonders in CPL 2026 as well, even though the TKR unit has been failing miserably altogether.

Usman Tariq Tops Longest Wicket-Taking Streak In CPL

Tariq failed to play the first match of CPL 2026 due to his commitments with Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. Since signing for the Knight Riders franchise, he has played 16 of 17 CPL matches so far for the same reason. Surprisingly, he has taken at least a wicket on all 16 occasions.

No bowler in the history of the competition has achieved the same feat which Tariq did on Tuesday. He got there when he picked up Mohammad Nabi’s wicket during the CPL 2026 match between TKR and Guyana Amazon Warriors, which took place at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain.

Also Read: Usman Tariq Gets IPL Star’s Support Amid Chucking Controversy With Tim David

Before Tariq, two West Indians, Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Bravo, held the record for the longest wicket-taking streak in CPL’s history.

[Most Consecutive CPL Innings With A Wicket]

More importantly, the CPL record has now been broken after nine years. For starters, the CPL 2026 is the 14th edition of the competition.

Why Does Pakistan's Tariq Face So Much Negativity?

Despite the fact that Tariq, a late bloomer who began his journey in PSL 2024, now has 28 CPL wickets in 16 matches, all for TKR, he often receives criticism for his bowling action.

Many claim Tariq’s bowling action is illegal. He takes a pause before releasing the ball while keeping his left knee raised. Sometimes, it looks like a ‘throw’ instead of bowling.

Nevertheless, the ICC has never mentioned that Tariq’s bowling action is illegal or it is 'chucking'. The angles at which Tariq releases after the load-up seem perfectly fine according to cricket’s highest governing body.

Moreover, Tariq has had a unique split elbow in his right arm since birth. In fact, he claimed he has two elbows in one arm. Therefore, he had that unusual bowling action, although it was even cleared twice in one week by the ICC.

Even though there is no comparison between these two, Muttiah Muralitharan, one of the best spinners the cricket world has ever seen, faced many challenges due to his criticism.

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