Who is Tabraiz Shamsi?

Tabraiz Shamsi is Samuel Badree’s replacement in the Royal Challengers Bangalore side. But who is he? Where is he from? Did you know that he had a better average, strike rate and economy rate than Badree in the Caribbean Premier League 2015? But who is he? Where is he from? Did you know that he had a better average, strike rate and economy rate than Badree in the Caribbean Premier League 2015?

DRAWN TOWARDS MAGIC

As a kid, Tabraiz Shamsi was attracted to magic tricks. Magic tricks are intricate, subtle, hard to perfect, yet, if managed, evoke awe… somewhat like spin bowling. Tabraiz, then, grew up to like cricket more. And, naturally, became a spinner. Chinaman, googly, top-spin, flipper… he learnt the tricks one by one. He improved year after year. He confunded batsman after batsman. His teammates call him the sorcerer. Tabraiz became what he wanted to be as a kid. Sort of.

DOMESTIC CAREER

Born in Johannesburg on February 18, 1990, Tabraiz started his career at Gauteng. When he struggled to get a breakthrough he joined the Titans. After struggling for a few years in first class cricket, he had an impressive 2013-14 season for Easterns, in which he took 47 wickets at 20.02. In 2015, he impressed Marlon Samuels in a tour game and earned an invitation to play in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

CPL EXPLOITS

Playing for St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Tabraiz pocketed 11 wickets from seven games at an average of 13.27 and an economy rate of 6.79, which was better than Badree’s numbers. Tabraiz’s average was the second best for any spinner in the tournament with more than 10 wickets.

THE BUSDRIVER CELEBRATION

It involves moving either of your fists like you do when driving a car or a bus while jerking your knees a bit. It’s Tabraiz’s way of celebrating. The jig’s fun. It might pip the Champion dance. Watch out for it.

RCB BOWLING COACH ALLAN DONALD ON TABRAIZ

Meet our new mysterious spinner. He has arrived from Johannesburg this morning. Yet to get to know him a lot better but I’ve seen him bowl for the Titans. He is very successful with what he’s done in the past couple of years. So lookout for a lot of mystery balls in there!