Imran Tahir
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Imran Tahir (born 27 March 1979) is a Pakistan
born South African cricketer. Tahir is a right-handed batsman who is a leg break bowler. Tahir currently plays for the Proteas and the Dolphins
in South Africa and will play for Hampshire
in the 2011 English county cricket season.
As well as his first-class
career in Pakistan, Tahir has had short spells with Yorkshire
and Middlesex
in county cricket as well as playing for Staffordshire
in the Minor Counties Cricket Championship
.
While Tahir has represented Pakistan Under-19 cricket team
's and Pakistan A, he failed to win full international honours for Pakistan. Tahir is married to Sumayya Dildar, a South African of Indian descent
, and has represented South Africa after becoming eligible to play for them when he met his four-year residence requirement in April 2009.
Tahir was a member of Hampshire's 2009 Friends Provident Trophy
winning squad, taking 2/50 from 10 overs in the final against Sussex
. Tahir made his career high score of 77 not out
in a County Championship
match against Somerset
on 28 August 2009.
For the 2010 season Hampshire signed Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis
, replacing Tahir for the season. Tahir represented Warwickshire
for the 2010 season, although he is contracted to play for Hampshire from the 2011 season onwards.
Tahir made his 100th first-class appearance in the 2009/2010 SuperSport Series when the Titans played the Lions. On January 8 Tahir was called up to the South Africa squad in their Test series against England
although he was then withdrawn one day later after Cricket South Africa
revealed that he was not eligible to play.
At the end of the 2009/10 season, Tahir moved from the Titans
to the Dolphins. This was due to a lack of first-class cricket with the club, who preferred to play 23-year-old leg-spinner Shaun von Berg
. When Tahir was called into South Africa's squad for the final Test against England, national coach Mickey Arthur
said "I'm not entirely sure what the issues are between him and the Titans, but the Titans obviously aren't going to pick him because they'd rather pick the young leggie they have".
. Although he was part of South Africa's squad to play a five-match ODI series against India
before the World Cup, Tahir did not make his debut. Captain Graeme Smith
explained that this was because "[Tahir] is someone we want to keep fresh and we didn't want to give people the opportunity to see too much of him."
Tahir debuted for South Africa in a match against the West Indies on Feb 24th, 2011 at the Feroz Shah Kotla
stadium in Delhi. He took 4 wickets for 41 runs in 10 overs during his debut match.
Pakistanis in South Africa
There are up to 2,500 Pakistanis in South Africa, based in various locations across Cape Town, Gauteng and Durban. They are post-Apartheid migrants from Pakistan, and should not be confused with Indian South Africans, who are largely descendants of late 19th and early 20th century immigrants from...
born South African cricketer. Tahir is a right-handed batsman who is a leg break bowler. Tahir currently plays for the Proteas and the Dolphins
Dolphins cricket team
The Sunfoil Dolphins is the name used by the KwaZulu Natal cricket team when it plays in the South African SuperSport Series first class competition; also in the MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Twenty20 limited over competitions...
in South Africa and will play for Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
in the 2011 English county cricket season.
As well as his first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
career in Pakistan, Tahir has had short spells with Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
and Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
in county cricket as well as playing for Staffordshire
Staffordshire County Cricket Club
Staffordshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Staffordshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
in the Minor Counties Cricket Championship
Minor Counties Cricket Championship
The Minor Counties Cricket Championship is a season-long competition in England that is contested by those county cricket clubs that do not have first-class status...
.
While Tahir has represented Pakistan Under-19 cricket team
Pakistan Under-19 cricket team
Pakistan Under-19 cricket team are twice Cricket World Champions at the under-19 level. Their second win made them the first and to date only back to back champions.-Pakistan U-19 Squad:* Azeem Ghumman* Sarmad Bhatti...
's and Pakistan A, he failed to win full international honours for Pakistan. Tahir is married to Sumayya Dildar, a South African of Indian descent
Indian South Africans
Indian South Africans are people of Indian descent living in South Africa and mostly live in and around the city of Durban, making it 'the largest 'Indian' city outside India'. Most Indians in South Africa are descendents of migrants from colonial India during late 19th-century through early...
, and has represented South Africa after becoming eligible to play for them when he met his four-year residence requirement in April 2009.
Tahir was a member of Hampshire's 2009 Friends Provident Trophy
2009 Friends Provident Trophy
The 2009 Friends Provident Trophy was an English county cricket tournament, held between 19 April and 25 July 2009. The competition was won by Hampshire Hawks who beat the Sussex Sharks by 6 wickets at Lord's.- Format :...
winning squad, taking 2/50 from 10 overs in the final against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
. Tahir made his career high score of 77 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
in a County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
match against Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
on 28 August 2009.
For the 2010 season Hampshire signed Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis
Ajantha Mendis
Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslo Mendis is a cricketer who plays for the Sri Lankan national cricket team.Mendis, although classified as slow-medium, bowls a mixture of deliveries, including googlies, off-breaks, top-spinners, flippers and leg-breaks, as well as the carrom ball, released with a flick...
, replacing Tahir for the season. Tahir represented Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
for the 2010 season, although he is contracted to play for Hampshire from the 2011 season onwards.
Tahir made his 100th first-class appearance in the 2009/2010 SuperSport Series when the Titans played the Lions. On January 8 Tahir was called up to the South Africa squad in their Test series against England
English cricket team in South Africa in 2009–10
-2nd T20I:-1st ODI:-2nd ODI:-3rd ODI:-4th ODI:-5th ODI:-1st Test:-2nd Test:-3rd Test:-4th Test:-50-over tour match: England XI v Diamond Eagles:-50-over tour match: England XI v Chevrolet Warriors :...
although he was then withdrawn one day later after Cricket South Africa
Cricket South Africa
Cricket South Africa is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in South Africa. The board was originally created as the United Cricket Board of South Africa in 1991.-History:...
revealed that he was not eligible to play.
At the end of the 2009/10 season, Tahir moved from the Titans
Titans cricket team
The Nashua Titans is the name used by the combined Easterns and Northerns first class cricket teams in South Africa. The home venues of the Titans are at SuperSport Park, Centurion and Willowmoore Park, Benoni...
to the Dolphins. This was due to a lack of first-class cricket with the club, who preferred to play 23-year-old leg-spinner Shaun von Berg
Shaun von Berg
Shaun von Berg is a South African cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and leg-break bowler who plays for Northerns. He was born in Pretoria....
. When Tahir was called into South Africa's squad for the final Test against England, national coach Mickey Arthur
Mickey Arthur
John Michael "Mickey" Arthur is a South African cricketer who played South African domestic cricket from 1986 to 2001. He coached the South African national team from 2005 to 2010, and has been recently appointed coach of the Australia national cricket team.-Biography:Arthur was born in...
said "I'm not entirely sure what the issues are between him and the Titans, but the Titans obviously aren't going to pick him because they'd rather pick the young leggie they have".
International career
Tahir qualified for South Africa on 1 January 2011, and was selected by them for the 2011 Cricket World Cup2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
. Although he was part of South Africa's squad to play a five-match ODI series against India
Indian cricket team in South Africa in 2010–11
-2nd Test:-3rd Test:-Only T20I:-1st ODI:-2nd ODI:Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar suffered a hamstring injury during the match, and was forced to fly home afterwards...
before the World Cup, Tahir did not make his debut. Captain Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith
Graeme Craig Smith is a South African cricketer and captain of the South African cricket team Test Match side, having succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
explained that this was because "[Tahir] is someone we want to keep fresh and we didn't want to give people the opportunity to see too much of him."
Tahir debuted for South Africa in a match against the West Indies on Feb 24th, 2011 at the Feroz Shah Kotla
Feroz Shah Kotla
The Feroz Shah Kotla or Kotla was originally a fortress built by Sultan Ferozshah Tughlaq to house his version of Delhi city called Ferozabad. A pristine polished sandstone pillar from the 3rd century B.C...
stadium in Delhi. He took 4 wickets for 41 runs in 10 overs during his debut match.
External links
- Imran Tahir on CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...
- A new country for Imran Tahir: Cricinfo