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In his seventh season—and second as captain—with the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Imran Tahir, now the oldest player in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at 45, became the first overseas bowler to achieve 100 wickets in the league. He reached this milestone by having Hassan Khan of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons caught by Gudakesh Motie at the midwicket boundary during the Amazon Warriors’ successful defense of 135 runs on a challenging pitch at Providence.
Tahir celebrated this achievement, describing it as a pivotal moment. When Hassan, known for his skill against spin, was dismissed for 10 runs off 12 balls, the Falcons found themselves at 41 for 3 in the eighth over and ultimately were bowled out for 108.
“I think he [Motie] took a fantastic catch,” Tahir remarked after the Amazon Warriors secured their playoff spot. “I was really pleased because Hassan is quite dangerous and can handle spin well, so getting him out at that point was crucial for the team. I’m just happy it worked out, and it was a tremendous effort from Motie. That was the turning point that got us back into the game.”
Following the catch, Tahir celebrated in his trademark style, even mimicking Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous ‘Siuuu’ celebration. In his next over, he dismissed Kofi James with another delivery, having him caught for 27 runs off 23 balls.
Though his appointment as captain last season at age 44 was met with skepticism, Tahir led the Amazon Warriors to their first title. Continuing in this role, he faced challenges this season due to injury but made a comeback and guided the team back into the playoffs.
“I’m very grateful to Guyana for the opportunities I’ve had to play in this beautiful country over the years,” he stated. “While reaching 100 CPL wickets is a personal milestone, I hope it reflects my contributions to the team, which is always my focus. It’s a significant achievement, and I’m very pleased with it.”
Tahir also praised Moeen Ali for his strategic innings of 42 runs off 33 balls, which helped the Amazon Warriors reach 135 for 7 after struggling at 85 for 5. While Moeen was cautious against Chris Green’s off-spin, he aggressively attacked left-arm spinner Imad Wasim in a stunning 19th over, hitting four consecutive boundaries (4, 6, 6, 6, 0, 4).
