Mohammad Imran Tahir

Mohammad Imran Tahir is a Pakistani born international cricketer who plays for South Africa national cricket team in all formats of the cricket game. early he played for Pakistan U-19 cricket team but he has failed to make next stage then he moved to England county cricket but his stay was not too long there and he moved to South Africa and played their domestic cricket for five years. he is a right-handed batsman and a right arm leg break bowler. He has very good Googly and a sharp Top Spin. he became fastest South African to take 100 wickets in just 58 matches and he is also the first bowler to take Seven wickets in an ODI match. In 2017 he became fastest South African to take 50 wickets in T20I as well and he is the fourth South African to take a hat-trick in ODI format. He has announced he will take retirement in ODI format after 2019 ICC World Cup.   

Domestic Career:

Tahir started his domestic cricket in 1996 for Punjab cricket team in first-class cricket till 2006 he played for them. He also played for WPDA (Water & Power Development Authority) for only a season and then he moved to Sui Northern Gas cricket team in 2001 -  2004 and he re-joined “WPDA Cricket team” in 2004 and played for them till 2007. He played for Sialkot region in 2002/03. he went to England to play county cricket for Middlesex in 2003. He also played for Lahore Lions in 2005/06. Tahir also played for Yorkshire county cricket club in 2007 season. He made his first appearance in South Africa Domestic cricket in 2007 for Titans cricket team he played for them for 3 years till 2009.

In 2008 he made a contract with Hampshire county cricket club although in 2010 Hampshire realise him for one season and he played for Warwickshire county cricket club and he re-joined Hampshire in 2011. From 2012 to 2014 he played for Highveld Loins. After a good performance, he has high demand in league cricket all around the world as well. he was picked up by Delhi Daredevils in IPL he played for them in 3 seasons 2014-2016. In 2015 he played for Nottinghamshire county cricket and in 2016 he moves to rising Pune Supergiants in IPL and Derbyshire in English county. Tahir played for serval teams from 2018-19 seasons. He played for Multan Sultans in PSL, Chennai Super Kings in IPL, Durham in English county, Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL, Sylhet Sixers in BPL and Nelson Mandela Bay  Giants in Mzansi Super league T20 cricket tournament.

International Career:

Tahir could have made his debut in test cricket for South Africa in 2010 but he was not eligible to play. In 2011 he was picked in the squad against India but he never got the chance to play but, he remained in the squad and played in 2011 ICC cricket world cup where he made his debut in ODI format against West Indies he had a dream debut took 4/41 in the match and in the tournament he took 14 wickets in 5 games after the he plays as an attacking option for Africa In 2015 ICC Cricket World he took 4/26 against Sri Lanka in Quarter Final match and won man of the match award as well and he is the highest wicket-taker for his side in the tournament as well. he was named in ICC ODI team of the year in 2015.

In test cricket he made his debut against Australia in 2011 where he had a bad start he took no wicket for 260 runs in the match but, against Pakistan in UAE he picked up his first five-wicket haul in an inning. He is not very consistent for South Africa in test team he has played 20 matches where he picked up 57 wickets at a very high average of 40.24 with only 2 five wickets haul.  

In T20I he made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2011.he was selected in 2014 ICC T20 World Cup where he performed really well he was the highest wicket-taker in the tournament by picking up 12 wickets at an average of only 10.91 and he also picked his best bowling figures in T20 took 4/21 against the Netherlands. In 2017 he ranked No 1 ICC T20 bowler in rankings and he was also named South Africa T20 cricketer of the year at annual dinner. He was also named T20 cricketer of the year at annual dinner in 2013 as well.