Warwickshire rope in Usman Tariq for 2026 T20 Blast

Warwickshire Bears have signed Pakistan mystery spinner Usman Tariq for the upcoming edition of the Vitality Blast. Tariq, who was bought by Birmingham Phoenix at the Hundred auction, will be available for the entire season, which runs from May 22 to July 18. This means the Pakistani spinner will likely play for both Edgbaston-based teams from May to August, when the Hundred ends.

Tariq’s T20 career

Tariq has played across three franchise leagues, including the International League T20 (ILT20), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and Pakistan Super League (PSL). He had a fairly decent season with Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, where he took 9 wickets in 10 innings, including a match-winning 3/18 against Lahore Qalandars.

Usman’s quirky bowling action, with a brief pause in his delivery, has made it difficult for batters to read him. This is reflected in his T20I numbers, as he has 18 wickets in nine T20Is at an average of 11.16.

"Usman is exactly the type of high-impact player we want to bring into Warwickshire, so we're delighted to get this deal completed," James Thomas, Warwickshire's performance director, said. "His skill set and tactical awareness make him a genuine threat in modern white-ball cricket, but it's his hunger to compete and continually improve that really stands out.

Edgbaston to be Usman’s home for the summer

He also mentioned that Usman’s deal with Phoenix in the Hundred would help the county create continuity for both the squad and the player himself.

"What makes this signing particularly exciting is the alignment between Warwickshire and Birmingham Phoenix. Bringing Usman into the Bears for the Vitality Blast, before transitioning into the Hundred with the Phoenix, reflects the strength of our integrated model across club and franchise.

"It allows us to create continuity for the player, maximise performance impact across both competitions, and build stronger connections with our supporters in Birmingham and Warwickshire. Ultimately, this is about strengthening the team, the franchise, and our presence in the area, and we believe Usman can play a key role in that this summer."

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