Shamsi Withdraws from SA20 for Personal Reasons; MI Cape Town Bring In Kaber

South Africa wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi has withdrawn from the upcoming SA20 season, citing personal reasons, prompting defending champions MI Cape Town to call up allrounder Thomas Kaber as his replacement.

Shamsi, who was signed by MI Cape Town in the September auction for R500,000 (approximately US$29,000), was set to play his first season for the franchise. He previously represented Joburg Super Kings in 2023–24 and Paarl Royals in the first two editions of the tournament. The 34-year-old is currently featuring for Northern Warriors in the Abu Dhabi T10 and has not played for South Africa since the 2024 T20 World Cup. Earlier this year, he opted out of a national contract and was left out of the ODI series against India.

MI Cape Town have opted for a like-for-like replacement in Kaber, who also bowls left-arm wristspin and has been part of the franchise in the previous two seasons. He played eight matches in 2023–24 and one game during the team’s 2024–25 title-winning campaign.

Kaber has taken 10 wickets across seven SA20 innings at an impressive average of 16.60 and an economy rate of 8.05. With the bat, he has scored 34 runs across four innings, remaining not out three times. In the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge, he has claimed seven wickets in six matches for Warriors, maintaining an economy rate of 6.31.

MI Cape Town’s spin group for the new season will now comprise Rashid Khan, George Linde, Dane Piedt and Kaber. Their pace attack features Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Corbin Bosch and Dwaine Pretorius.

The defending champions open the 2024–25 SA20 season on December 26 against Durban’s Super Giants at Newlands, which will also host the final on January 25.