Imran Tahir replaces Mitchell Marsh at Rising Pune Supergiant
Rising Pune Supergiant have signed up South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir as a replacement for injured Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for the upcoming IPL. Marsh sustained a shoulder injury midway through the ongoing Test series against India and underwent a reconstructive surgery at home.
Pune spent a whopping Rs. 4.8 crore rupees for Marsh before the 2016 edition, but the Aussie turned out for only three games before being ruled out with an injury. His current injury, which he sustained after the second Test, could keep him on the sidelines for close to nine months.
Tahir, 37, had taken five wickets in four matches for Delhi Daredevils in the 2016 IPL but was released by the team ahead of the auction this year. Although he held the top spot in the International Cricket Council rankings for bowlers in ODIs and T20Is, and a base price of Rs 50 lakh, he went unsold at the auction on Feb 20th.
"Imran Tahir who was unsold in the 2017 VIVO IPL Player Auction is from the registered available player pool list (RAPP list). As per the player regulations, RPS is allowed the replacement player from the RAPP list," BCCI said in a media release. on Thursday (March 23).
Pakistan-born Tahir has been in good form for South Africa lately and took six wickets in five matches in his country's 3-2 away series win over New Zealand in the ODIs. Earlier, he had taken ten wickets in South Africa’s 5-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in the ODI series at home.