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Tabraiz Shamsi Withdraws From SA20; MI Cape Town Bring In Thomas Kaber As Replacement

South African wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has pulled out of the upcoming season of the SA20 for personal reasons, leaving defending champions MI Cape Town without one of its big off-season signings. Shamsi was purchased for R500,000 during the September 2025 auction and would have made his maiden outing for the franchise this season.

MICT Call Up Allrounder Thomas Kaber

In Shamsi’s absence, MICT have drafted in allrounder Thomas Kaber, a left-arm wristspinner who had previously represented the franchise in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Kaber featured in one game during MICT’s title-winning 2024-25 season and played eight games the season before.

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Kaber Career Snapshot in SA20

Kaber has picked up ten wickets in seven bowling innings in this tournament, at the impressive average of 16.60 and an economy rate of 8.05. His batting returns read 34 runs from four innings three of them unbeaten and his growing value is increasingly in his bowling.

In the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge, he has picked up seven wickets in six matches for the Warriors while keeping an excellent economy rate of 6.31 and an average of 17.42.

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MICT’s Budding Bowling Unit

Without Shamsi, too, MI Cape Town possess an excellent spin arsenal – Rashid Khan, George Linde and Dane Piedt. The pace battery is equally strong with Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Corbin Bosch and Dwaine Pretorius making for a well-set bowling unit.

Tabraiz Shamsi’s Recent Career Developments

Shamsi is playing for Northern Warriors in the Abu Dhabi T10 this month. Earlier this year, he made himself unavailable for a CSA national contract and also wasn’t selected for the ODI squad during the series against India. His last T20I outing was at the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The off-spinner had previously represented Joburg Super Kings and Paarl Royals in past SA20 editions before this season. Season Opener Confirmed for December 26 The defending champions, MI Cape Town, will start the new season of the SA20 on December 26 against Durban’s Super Giants. The home team will face off at Newlands, where the final of the tournament will be held on January 25.

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