Sohail Tanvir sends reminder to Pakistan selectors with match-winning haul in domestic T20 Cup final

Veteran left-arm pacer now the fifth highest wicket-taker in the format with 340 dismissals

File photo of fast bowler Sohail Tanvir playing for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir sent yet another reminder to national selectors of his abilities in the T20 format as he starred in his domestic team Northern’s title win in the National T20 Cup.

Tanvir has been one of the most consistent T20 bowlers in the world and proved his worth yet again with a match-winning spell of 3-27 against Balochistan in the final in Faisalabad to secure a comfortable 52-run triumph.

Tanvir accounted for opener and captain Imam-ul-Haq and dismissed one-down batsman Bismillah Khan first ball to help restrict Balochistan to 115 in 18.2 overs after his team had posted 167-5 batting first.

The experienced left-arm pacer has not played T20 cricket for Pakistan since 2017 and his age – 34 – seems to be the only factor working against him.

Tanvir turned up the heat during the business end of the National T20 Cup, recording figures of 2-39 and 2-24 leading up to his effort in the final.

Tanvir ended up as the most successful bowler of the tournament with 14 dismissals. He also became the fifth highest wicket-taker in the history of T20 cricket with 340 scalps. He overtook journeyman leg-spinner Imran Tahir with his three-for.

Last month, the seamer had said he expected the new Pakistan management, under Misbah-ul-Haq, to give him another chance in international cricket.

“I will try to get back in the Pakistan T20I side and in that sense, Misbah’s recent comments where he spoke about age not being a criterion for selection have been most encouraging for many of us,” Tanvir wrote on his blog for pakpassion.net.

“This had been the case in the previous system and quite a few players suffered due to this policy. Age should not be a factor for selection, because if a player is able to play for Pakistan for six months or one year then he should be given a chance to serve the nation.”

Tanvir has not been selected for Pakistan’s T20 series against Australia, which begins on November 3.