The 45-year-old South Africa National Cricket Team leg-spinner Imran Tahir has openly expressed his frustration over unpaid dues from his previous stint with the Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Imran Tahir levelled serious allegations of not receiving payments from the franchise during the Global Super League match between the Guyana Amazon Warriors and Rangpur Riders at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
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Imran Tahir played 3 matches in BPL 2024
The veteran South Africa National Cricket Team spinner played 3 matches in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for Rangpur Riders.
In those three matches, he did a decent job for the franchise and bagged 6 wickets at an average of 12.33, an economy of 6.16, and a strike rate of 12. His best bowling figures for the team were 5/26.
Imran Tahir has played for several franchises across the globe in his illustrious T20 career and at the of 45, he is still in demand and is going strong.
Overall, he has featured in 420 T20 matches in his career and picked up 526 wickets at an average of 19.85, an economy of 6.98, and a strike rate of 17, with 10 4-wicket hauls and 4 5-wicket hauls.
I played for Rangpur Riders last year in BPL and haven’t got all my contract money – Imran Tahir
Speaking at the toss ahead of the match against Rangpur Riders, Imran Tahir said that he was desperate to win the match against the BPL franchise.
Guyana Amazon Warriors skipper revealed that he was motivated for the win because of personal reasons, as Rangpur Riders haven’t paid him contract money from his stint with the franchise.
“We want to win every game, that’s what we’re here for,” said Tahir at the toss of their Global Super League match in Providence, Guyana.
“Today’s game especially, obviously want to win it for Guyana, but for personal reasons as well. I played for Rangpur Riders last year in BPL and haven’t got all my contract money. So that’s motivating me in today’s game. I want to do really well against them.”
We’re better humans than them – Imran Tahir
Tahir launched a direct attack on Bangladesh and Rangpur Riders, saying that they will show them that Guyana welcomes everyone and there are superior people in the franchise and the country. He said:
“We want to show them that Guyana welcomes them, they bring their local players here, earn some money, play some good cricket, and show them that we’re better humans than them.”
This was not the first time Tahir has faced payment issues in the BPL as in 2019, he was involved in a matter with the Sylhet franchise and alleged them of not paying the agreed fees.
Talking about the match, Guyana Amazon Warriors failed to clinch a win as Rangpur Riders won by 15 runs. Imran Tahir gave his best with the ball in the first innings and bagged two wickets in his 4 overs to restrict the opposition to 117. However, his team failed to chase the target and got all out for 102.