Imran Tahir left Pakistan to marry an India-based woman living in South Africa

One of the best spinners in the limited-overs version, Imran Tahir continues to mesmerize the cricketing world with his ageless brilliance. After playing a lot of first-class cricket in Pakistan, he decided to settle in South Africa and represented the country in various ICC tournaments and also played some Test cricket.

Not getting an opportunity to play for Pakistan was one of the prime reasons why he left his home country, but another one that prompted him to settle in the Rainbow nation is something many don’t know. To marry the love of his life Summaya, Tahir decided to leave the country of his birth and it all began in 1998 when he travelled to South Africa to represent his national U19 side in the World Cup.

He met Summaya there and even after coming back, he could never get over her thoughts. He knew she was the love of his life and in a time when connectivity was very poor, he decided to go back to the country and meet the lady. After long deliberations, she finally decided to marry him. But she kept a condition that she can’t leave South Africa due to a plethora of reasons.

Saw each other for the first time at the Airport

In a candid interview, Summaya disclosed how Tahir noticed her in the crowd during an U19 game back in 1998. She also lauded the amount of courage he picked up to come back and meet her family.

“I saw Immy (Imran Tahir) for the first time when I went watch an U19 game with my family, where Pakistan was playing. He noticed me in the crowd. Two days later, he was traveling back to Lahore and I saw him at the airport. He took up great courage to comeback and meet my parents. Post that, we kept in touch for a while and then got married,” she was quoted as saying in a video.

They decided to marry and settle in South Africa in 2006. He played first-class cricket in South Africa for 5 years, before making his International debut in 2011. It was the World Cup 2011 where he made his debut against West Indies. Ever since he has been a revelation for the side as far as the spin department is concerned.

The couple currently resides in the Rainbow nation and have a son named Gibran.