IPL 2021: Rajasthan Royals sign Tabraiz Shamsi as replacement for Andrew Tye

Rajasthan Royals have signed the services of the World no.1 T20 bowler as they replaced Andrey Tye with South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi. The Australian will miss the second half of the Indian Premier League as he wants to spend time with his family.

In fact, Tye had flown back to Australia during the first phase of the IPL 2021 when the Covid-19 second wave situation was getting worse in India. Meanwhile, Shamsi has been a consistent performer for the Proteas as he has scalped 45 wickets in 39 T20I matches.

Furthermore, he represented Royal Challengers Bangalore back in IPL 2016 and played four matches for the Virat Kohli-led team in which he scalped three wickets. The chinaman spinner also recently picked seven wickets in five matches of the Hundred while playing the Oval Invincibles.

“It is with great regret that I have to pull out of the remainder of the IPL 2021 with the Rajasthan Royals,” Tye said in a statement. “It has been a long year for me which has kept me away from home for a lengthy period, and the disappointment of not making it to the World Cup squad has added to the dismay.

“Therefore, keeping my best interests in mind, I had to make this tough decision of staying at home and preparing myself mentally and physically for next year’s T20 World Cup. I am gutted that I won’t be able to rejoin the Royals family this year, but like all the fans out there, I will be cheering the team on,” he added.

Apart from Tye, Rajasthan Royals will also miss the services of their key players like Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler. New Zealand’s wicket-keeper batsman Glenn Phillips has been signed as the replacement for Butter. Furthermore, the inaugural champions of the IPL might not have Ben Stokes, who has taken an indefinite break from the game for his mental well being.

Thus, the Royals will have their work cut out in the second season. The Royals, who are placed fifth in the standings with three wins from seven matches, resume their UAE leg of IPL 2021 with a clash against Punjab Kings on September 21 in Dubai.