The 2024 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League is coming to shake the international club circuit. The tournament will be held at the world-famous Providence Stadium in Guyana, where five teams from Australia, Bangladesh, England, Pakistan, and West Indies will clash in a highly intense schedule of 11 matches from November 26 to December 7. Organized by Cricket West Indies, the GSL will be an all-stakes battle with a total prize pool of $1 million. The tourney format is rounded-robin, and the two best teams in that stage advance to the final.
One of the marquee players to watch out for is Imran Tahir, the South African leg-spin maestro. Since joining the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise in 2018, Tahir has built a reputation as one of the world’s top leg spinners – replete with his blazing celebrations and brain-eating googlies.
He adds much experience and considerable Gulf credentials to Guyana. With GAW preparing for the GSL, he might even look to equal some CPL historic feats. Here are three records Tahir set with GAW that he might look to mirror in the GSL.
Imran Tahir Records for Guyana Amazon Warriors
1. Third Highest Wicket-Taker in CPL History
Imran Tahir is the third-highest wicket-taker in CPL history, having picked up 107 wickets in 78 games. His smart cricket, with a bowling average of 17.80 and an economy rate of 6.50 has made him a beacon for GAW’s bowling lineup.
Not to forget that Tahir’s breakthroughs, the pressure on batsmen, and his consistent performances had made him quite an asset for his team over the years. For GSL, he looks forward to utilizing experience and straddling a top position in the wicket chart of the tournament.
2. Leading Overseas Wicket-Taker in CPL
Tahir is the leading overseas wicket-taker in CPL history. He was the first international player to rack up 100 or more wickets in the league. That record alone speaks to his quality and how well he can adapt to different conditions.
The only two persons who have taken more wickets in CPL than him are Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine, both of whom are local. If Tahir can repeat this act in the GSL, he will not only be the man of the tournament but a benchmark for overseas players in this new tournament.
3. Top Wicket-Taker Guyana Amazon Warriors
As Guyana Amazon Warriors’ top wicket-taker, Tahir has cemented his role as one of the most valuable players in the franchise. At times, his 107 wickets had been the difference between GAW and defeat, turning the game his way.
His impact ensured GAW did not miss a single CPL play-off from the time they came into the competition until 2023 when GAW went on to win the title. Tahir will look to add more to his bag, getting vital breakthroughs for his team, and cementing his role as a match-winner in the GSL.
A Veteran Leader
Apart from his individual success stories, his leadership qualities also came forth. He took GAW to the first title of CPL in the 2023 season, becoming the oldest captain to win a T20 league. GAW could not retain the title during the 2024 season. However, the years Tahir has spent as a leader and the astuteness with which he deals with tactics are worth him in gold. When he dons the outfit of GSL, these would prove decisive in taking his team through the pressure cooker of the tournament.
Guyana Amazon Warriors and the CPL team have great expectations from Imran Tahir as he prepares to play for GSL. As an international player, he has been a prolific wicket-taker, and within his franchise, even more so: just his record speaks to how important this player is to his team. Expect him to repeat those, great homage to his legacy but also for GSL’s future. Expectant Providence Stadium fans will likely see Tahir’s typical outbursts of glee as he aims to write another page in the annals of T20 domination.
