Tag: Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir replaces Tabraiz Shamsi in Karachi Kings for PSL 9

Posted on by A Sports

Karachi Kings have named South Africa’s cricket legend Imran Tahir as the replacement for Tabraiz Shamsi in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9.

Shamsi, who was part of the Kings’ squad for the first seven matches, departs due to his participation in the domestic CSA’s T20 Challenge.

In his four appearances for the Kings, Tabraiz Shamsi picked up three wickets at an average of 52.33 with the best bowling figures of 2/42.

Imran Tahir, who previously played for Karachi Kings in the 2023 season, joins the squad in Islamabad, bringing his wealth of experience to bolster the team’s spin department.

For the unversed, the Kings are currently fifth in the PSL 9 standings with six points in seven matches.

The 2020 champions on Wednesday, got back on the winning track with a statement seven-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators.

Chasing a paltry 119-run target, Karachi Kings completed the pursuit with 4.3 overs to spare when Shoaib Malik smashed Usman Tariq for six.

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Captain Shan Masood fell early in the chase with 13 runs on the board, however, Seifert and James Vince steadied the ship with a 50-run partnership off 39 balls.

Vince scored an anchoring 27 off 28 with the help of four boundaries before he fell to Akeal Hosein.

Seifert switched gears after the wicket and added 44 runs for the second wicket with Malik but could not finish the game as he fell with his team requiring 12 runs.

He top-scored for Karachi Kings with 49 runs from 31 balls, which featured eight boundaries including two sixes.

Malik scored played an anchoring 27-run knock from 20 balls and saw his team chase down the total in the 16th over.

For Quetta Gladiators, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed and Akeal Hosein picked one wicket each.

Earlier, Karachi Kings’ captain Shan Masood opted to bowl first after winning the toss, and the decision bore fruits as they booked the Gladiators on a paltry 118.

Hasan Ali led the bowling attack for Karachi Kings with four wickets while Blessing Muzarabani and Zahid Mahmood bagged two wickets each.

Karachi Kings Squad for PSL 9: Shan Masood (c), Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Mohammad Nawaz, Tim Siefert/Fawad Ali, James Vince, Hasan Ali, Shoaib Malik, Imran Tahir, Mohammad Amir Khan, Anwar Ali, Arafat Minhas, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Irfan Niazi, Sirajuddin, Saad Baig, and Blessing Muzarabani, Zahid Mehmood, Leus De Plooy, Mohammad Rohid.

READ: Phil Simmons ‘hopeful’ for top-four finish with shift in Kings’ momentum

‘We badly needed it,’ says Imran as Kings end PSL 8 on winning note

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: Experienced leg-spinner Imran Tahir was glad that his side Karachi Kings finished their Pakistan Super League (PSL) eight campaign on a winning note after a resounding 86-run victory over table-toppers Lahore Qalandars.

Imran was once again clinical with his bowling performance as he took two wickets for 24 runs against home side Qalandars and played a pivotal role in dismantling their batting order while defending a massive total of 197.

The experienced leg-spinner in an interview briefly after the conclusion of his side’s final PSL 8 fixture, expressed his delight in finishing the tournament on a winning note as the Kings ‘badly needed’ it.

“Yeah look it’s always nice to finish like this when you obviously had a tough campaign. I think we badly needed it, to be very honest with you. We are very glad to finish on a good note,” said Imran.

Imran then went on to assert that the ongoing edition of the PSL has been very tough for the bowlers as the conditions on offer in most of the venues barely supported them.

“If I look at all PSL, I think people need to think about it, it’s been tough for the bowlers. As you see all over Pakistan, in Karachi we had tough conditions – a bit dew – and even in Pindi, it’s been very tough wickets for spinners to bowl,” complained Imran.

“But, it’s been a great experience, I won’t say it was my favourite PSL this year for me personally. Yeah, from the team’s point of view, I think we wanted to finish the way we finished today,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that a resounding 86-run victory over the leaders Qalandars, lifted the Kings to finish this year’s extravaganza fifth with six points in 10 matches.

WATCH: Imran Tahir teaches Rashid Khan’s googly to Sikandar Raza

Posted on by ali.hassan

KARACHI: Karachi Kings’ spinner Imran Tahir taught Rashid Khan’s googly to Lahore Qalandars’ Sikandar Raza following their sides clash here at National Bank Cricket Arena on Sunday.

Following the conclusion of the much-hyped clash of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight between arch-rivals Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars, the Zimbabwean all-rounder Raza, who is representing Qalandars approached seasoned spinner Tahir to learn valuable skills regarding leg spin.

Upon Raza’s request, Tahir taught him the googly which he learned from Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan.

Taking to Twitter, the Qalandars shared footage of Tahir teaching Raza how to bowl Rashid’s style of googly.

“Learn the art of [Rashid Khan] googly from [Imran Tahir], [Sikandar Raza],” wrote Qalandars.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Raza termed franchise cricket a vital opportunity for him to learn different valuable skills from top stars.

“If there was no franchise cricket, I would not have had such opportunities to improve my skills. You don’t get all that in international cricket,” said Raza.

“Franchise cricket gives you an opportunity to learn a lot from the top stars of the world,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that dominant Kings thrashed arch-rivals Qalandars by a massive margin of 67 runs to mark their comeback on the winning track in the ongoing PSL 8.

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Imran Tahir reaches Pakistan as Karachi Kings begin PSL campaign today

Posted on by ali.hassan

KARACHI: South Africa’s star spinner Imran Tahir has landed in the country today and joined Karachi Kings’ squad for the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League. 

Foreign players continue to arrive in Pakistan in a bid to play for their respective franchises in the PSL 8 which began yesterday with a curtain-raiser between defending champions Lahore Qalandars and home side Multan Sultans.

The most followed franchise of PSL, Kings, on the other hand, will play their first game on Tuesday against Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi at National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.

Taking to Twitter, Karachi Kings, shared a picture of leg spinner Tahir’s arrival in the city.

Last night, English batter James Vince also reached Pakistan to represent the Kings in the marquee tournament.

In the opening match held yesterday, Shaheen Afridi-led Qalandars claimed a thrilling win over Multan Sultans despite Mohammad Rizwan’s magnificent 75-run knock.

Set to chase 176, home side Sultans fell just one run short of triumph as they could accumulate 174/6 in their quota of 20 overs after young pacer Zaman Khan held his nerves calm to defend 15 runs in the final over.

READ: Karachi Kings’ official anthem for PSL 8 ‘Yeh Hai Karachi’ released

Imran, Munro become mentors of two Pakistan Junior League teams

Posted on by A Sports

LAHORE: Former South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir and New Zealand explosive batter Colin Munro has been appointed as the mentors for the two teams of the upcoming Pakistan Junior League (PJL).

The two foreign cricketers will join former Pakistan and West Indian captains Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, and Darren Sammy as the team mentors. The legendary Pakistan batter Javed Miandad, on the other hand, has already been appointed tournament mentor.

With the inclusion of Munro and Imran, the overall tally of team mentors has risen to five. Whereas, the sixth team mentor will be announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the due course.

In a PCB released statement, Imran expressed delight at being appointed as a team mentor for the PJL, while also asserting that he backs the idea of the junior league as it will amplify the pool of players for the country.

“Returning to Lahore for the Pakistan Junior League in a team mentor’s role is one of my most satisfying achievements as I still owe a lot to my country of birth. This is an exciting opportunity to work with emerging slow bowlers and help them develop and flourish so that they have a chance to emulate the great spinners this country has produced,” Imran stated.

“I am fully behind the philosophy of Pakistan Junior League as this creates a tough and challenging environment for the players with high expectations, and only those who will clear this scale will go leaps and bounds in their careers. With the amount of international cricket being played, this event will help Pakistan to amplify their pool of players, which, in turn, will increase playing opportunities and earning the prized national cap,” he added.

Explosive Kiwi batter Munro, on the other hand, termed the initiative as a game-changer for Pakistan cricket and lauded the PCB for investing in youngsters and securing the future of the game.

“I am excited to be part of the inaugural Pakistan Junior League, which I believe will be a game-changer for Pakistan cricket. Investing in youngsters, securing the future of the game and ensuring the national side continues to move in an upward direction should be the objectives of all administrators and I think the PCB has taken a lead here by launching this tournament, which will expose the young talent to the rigours and demands of top-level cricket and help Pakistan in the longer run,” Munro stated.

 

“Working with youngsters, sharing knowledge and helping them grow in their careers is something that interests and excites me, and I am really looking forward to being a part of the Pakistan Junior League. Having seen firsthand experienced the tremendous talent at the HBL Pakistan Super League, I have no doubts the Pakistan Junior league will produce future champions of world cricket,” he added.

The six-team PJL will roll into action on October 4, while the final of the event will take place on October 17. The first of its sort T20 league will be contested by under-19 teams and will feature local as well as international players. The teams will recruit the young players via a draft system.

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