Tabraiz Shamsi signs with Hampshire for final four Blast games

Shamsi's chinaman also brings along a nice variety which tends to bamboozle opponents.

Hampshire have signed South Africa left-arm wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi for the last four group games of the Vitality T20 Blast to keep up with their spin threat following injuries to Mason Crane and his back-up spinner Brad Taylor.

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The T20 franchise has had success at home – The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, where they’ve prepared turning tracks with Liam Dawson and Crane combining to take 17 wickets from 16 games. In the South group, Hampshire are currently placed sixth with 10 points having won four games and two finishing in no-result and the ploy behind bringing Shamsi is to ensure their spin stock remains equipped.

“After losing both Mason and Brad to injuries, Shamsi bolsters the squad and offers an excellent spin option with international experience for the final four fixtures of our Vitality Blast campaign,” said Giles White, Hampshire’s director of cricket. “We’re looking forward to having him with us.”

Shamsi’s chinaman also brings along a nice variety which tends to bamboozle opponents. Prior to this stint, Shamsi has also served with Northamptonshire in 2015 featuring in five games for the county side. He also has the experience of playing in the Indian Premier League, where back in 2016, he represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore in four matches and finished with three wickets.

Shamsi will join his current and former South Africa teammates Chris Morris, Rilee Russouw and Kyle Abbott, and is likely to make his debut against Middlesex at Lord’s on Thursday.