Tabraiz Shamsi pulls out of SA20, Thomas Kaber called up by MI Cape Town

South Africa and MI Cape Town (MICT) wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi will not feature in the upcoming SA20 season, having made himself unavailable for personal reasons. He has been replaced by allrounder Thomas Kaber, who also bowls left-arm wristspin.

MICT’s spin-bowling unit for the fourth season now includes Rashid Khan, George Linde, Dane Piedt, and Kaber while their pace attack features Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Corbin Bosch, and Dwaine Pretorius. Kaber returns to the franchise he represented in the last two seasons, having played one match in MICT’s 2024-25 title-winning campaign and eight matches in 2023-24.

Overall, Kaber has bowled in seven SA20 innings, taking 10 wickets at an average of 16.60 at an economy rate of 8.05. With the bat, he has scored 34 runs in four innings, including three unbeaten knocks. In the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge, Kaber has picked up seven wickets in six games for the Warriors at an economy of 6.31 and an average of 17.42.

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Shamsi was acquired by MICT in the September auction for R500,000 (approximately US$29,000) and was set to play his maiden season with the franchise. He previously represented Joburg Super Kings last season and Paarl Royals in the first two seasons.

Shamsi is currently playing for Northern Warriors in the Abu Dhabi T10. Earlier this year, he opted out of a Cricket South Africa (CSA) national contract and was not selected for the ODI series against India. His last T20I appearance came in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Defending champions MICT will kick off the season on December 26 against Durban’s Super Giants in Cape Town. Newlands, the franchise’s home ground, will host the summit clash on January 25. Sunrisers Eastern Cape claimed victory in the first two seasons in 2023 and 2024, and the fourth season is expected to see a new champion emerge.