Tabraiz Shamsi Leaves Sri Lankan Tour Midway
Published - 16 Jul 2018, 10:30 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:53 PM
Tabraiz Shamsi, the South African spinner step aside from Sri Lanka tour citing unspecified family reasons, officials revealed on Monday.
The second Test will take place in Colombo starting on Friday (July 20). However, no decision has been formulated on the return of Shamsi.
Meanwhile, Cricket South Africa (CSA) management did not ask for his replacement for the Proteas poor show at the Galle.
The tourists have not a dearth of spin attack as they have availed the services Keshav Maharaj and uncapped leg-spinner, Shaun Von Berg.
In the absence of Shamsi, the uncapped leg-spinner is likely to make his debut very soon.
Figures in the first test:
In the first Test which took place at the Galle International Stadium, Shamsi bagged three wickets. He bowled 25.4 overs and leaked 91 runs.
In contrast to that, his partner, Maharaj remained wicketless while bowling 17 overs.
But the things turned completely different in the second innings as Maharaj took four wickets whereas, Shamsi got a solitary wicket. Maharaj bowled 20 overs in the innings and Shamsi only bowled 11 overs.
Promising spinner Shamsi ended his figures with four for 128 as Sri Lanka won the series opener by staggering 278 runs inside three days.
South Africa was all set to play five One-day internationals and a single Twenty20 match in Sri Lanka. Shamsi was included in both the formats.
Rest to Imran Tahir:
Earlier South African selectors have decided to rest their ace spinner Imran Tahir in view to assess spin options before the 2019 World Cup.
South African management is desperately in search of a partner for Tahir as either Maharaj or Tabraiz Shamsi could book a place.
“We have taken the strategic decision to rest Imran Tahir so that we can get a clearer picture as to who our best second spinner is to back him up at the World Cup,” CSA selection convener Linda Zondi said in a statement.
