Tabraiz Shamsi

Franchise leagues opened further doors. In 2015 he joined the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League and ended the tournament as its top wicket-taker. That form helped him land an IPL opportunity in 2016, when Royal Challengers Bangalore brought him in as cover for the injured Samuel Badree. He played only four games that season, and with conditions heavily stacked against bowlers he had little chance to show what he could do. Closer to home, he turned out for Paarl Rocks in the Mzansi Super League and was the most economical bowler of its first edition, conceding 6.30 runs per over.

By 2017 Shamsi had played all three international formats for South Africa. Chances stayed scarce, though, because fellow wrist-spinner Imran Tahir was already well established in the side. Shamsi made his World Cup debut in 2019, appearing in two round-robin matches, where he went without a wicket and proved costly. Tahir retired after that tournament, and Shamsi stepped up as the team's leading spin option, gaining the regular exposure his career had lacked.

The results soon followed. In early 2021 he reached the top of the ICC's T20I bowling rankings. He took 8 wickets in 5 matches at the 2021 T20 World Cup and 4 in two games at the 2022 edition. In July 2022 his 5/24 against England carried him past Dale Steyn's tally of 64 wickets, making him South Africa's leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals. He was later included in South Africa's 15-man squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

A left-arm wrist-spinner who is now South Africa's first-choice spinner in white-ball cricket, Shamsi pairs a wide range of variations with tight control and is at his most dangerous when batters attack him. Fans also know him for his upbeat personality and his celebrations, most famously the 'bus driver' and the 'shoe call'.