|| Desk Report ||

Shamsi has brought his old passion to the cricket field. His extravagant celebrations after taking a wicket have attracted social media interest across the cricket-playing world.

Before he became a full-time cricketer, South African spin bowler Tabraiz Shamsi wanted to become a professional magician.

Now Shamsi has brought his old passion to the cricket field. His extravagant celebrations after taking a wicket have attracted social media interest across the cricket-playing world.

The left-arm wrist spinner's latest trick is to take a large red handkerchief out of his pocket and, with a flick of his wrist, turn it into a metre-long wand.

"I have always wanted to enjoy myself on the cricket field," Shamsi told AFP on Friday.

"There's a lot of pressure playing professional cricket and sometimes you forget why you started playing cricket in the first place.

"It's a bit of fun. Not everyone likes it but my intentions are all good. I want to get more kids to enjoy the game."

Playing for the Paarl Rocks in South Africa's Mzansi Super League Twenty20 competition, Shamsi is the competition's joint second-highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets in seven matches at an average of 18.00, conceding a relatively economical 7.20 runs an over.

With one league match to go, the Rocks are well-placed to make the three-team play-offs.

"Before cricket became serious for me, at the age of about 15, I wanted to be a professional magician," said Shamsi, 29, who has played in two Tests, 17 one-day internationals and 16 T20 internationals for South Africa.

He first attracted attention for his celebrations with a dance move -– "some people called it the bus driver dance" -– which he unveiled while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League in 2016.
He then came up with a mock telephone call, taking off a shoe and pretending it was a mobile phone, while playing for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League two years ago.