Shah Rukh Khan's TKR Retains Pakistan Spinner Usman Tariq for CPL 2026
Trinbago Knight Riders follow Sunrisers Leeds in signing Pakistani cricketer amid political tensions.
Shah Rukh Khan's Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) have retained Pakistani spinner Usman Tariq for the upcoming CPL 2026 season. The move comes months after the Kavya Maran-owned Sunrisers Leeds signed another Pakistan spinner, Abrar Ahmed, for The Hundred, drawing attention given the strained cricket relations between India and Pakistan.
Usman Tariq was one of three overseas players retained by the defending champions. He impressed in his debut CPL season in 2025, taking 20 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 13.95, finishing as the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker. His performance was crucial in TKR's title-winning campaign.
The signings of Pakistani players by franchises owned by Indian business groups have sparked debate, especially amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Despite limited bilateral cricket between the two nations, players from Pakistan continue to feature in global leagues.
Apart from Tariq, TKR also retained England opener Alex Hales and New Zealand's Colin Munro, while signing South Africa's Matthew Breetzke and Sri Lanka's Dushan Silva for the CPL 2026 season.