IPL 2017: RCB's Tabraiz Shamsi leaves season midway, set to return to South Africa

Tabraiz Shamsi, the South African chinaman bowler, who was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad this season, will leave the IPL midway and return home.

Shamsi did not feature in any of the RCB matches this season, staying on the benches for all the nine matches that the team has played till now. He took three wickets in four matches last year, but could not get a game with the RCB team this time, with the team preferring Samuel Badree over him. Incidentally, Badree was the player he replaced in the RCB side last year.

Shamsi took to Instagram to announce his departure, stating that he will return to Johannesburg the next morning.

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“Really sad to be leaving India. People in India have been really awesome. Lots of love and support, and hopefully I can be back next year for the IPL. I really appreciate the passion people have here. Can’t thank the guys of Bengaluru enough. Going to miss this place a lot”, Shamsi said.

He wasn’t named in the Champions Trophy squad for South Africa, with the selectors preferring the uncapped Keshav Maharaj over him.

Known for his bus drive celebration, a little jig that he does after a taking a wicket, Shamsi is active on social media and became popular in IPL 2016 by doing a rendition of the celebration with the likes of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.

He was the highest wicket-taker for his franchise, the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, in the Carribean Premier League this year, and considers Brag Hogg, another chinaman, as his role model.

He made his ODI debut for South Africa in January last year, and has so far featured in five games for them. His only Test came against Australia at Adelaide in November 2016.

The RCB are having a torrid IPL this season, winning just two games out of eight. Hit by injuries to start with, and currently missing the services of KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan, they are all but out of the IPL, currently placed second-last in the points table.

More to follow...