Hamza Tahir Announces Sudden Retirement from Scottish Cricket
On June 25, 2024, Scottish cricketer Hamza Tahir announced his immediate retirement from international cricket, citing a formal grievance against Cricket Scotland. The 28-year-old bowler, who made his Twenty20 debut for Scotland in 2018 and went on to play 49 matches across one-day and T20 formats, expressed his disappointment with the “toxic environment” and “unfair treatment” he had experienced during his time with the national team.
Tahir’s contract with Cricket Scotland was not renewed in March 2024, a decision he strongly disputes. In a letter of grievance seen by Mail Sport, Tahir’s representatives detailed his impressive statistics and bowling abilities, as well as the reasons provided by Cricket Scotland for the non-renewal of his contract.
“I’ve given so much to the sport and I’ve given so much to Cricket Scotland,” Tahir said. “Looking back, it has just been a waste of time. I’ve put in hard yards, I’ve put in so much effort and it has not been rewarded fairly.”
The Paisley-born spin bowler acknowledged that he could be perceived as “bitter” and “angry” about being left out of a team that is making strides in international cricket. However, Tahir believes his performance data does not reflect a player with a poor run of form, but rather someone who has been plagued by injuries or simply not selected for important competitions.
Cricket Scotland has confirmed that Tahir’s contract was among several that were not renewed in 2024, as the organization negotiated with the Scottish Cricketers Association (SCA) to reduce the number of male cricketers under contract while increasing the overall remuneration.
In a statement, Cricket Scotland expressed disappointment at Tahir’s retirement and thanked him for his service to the national team. The organization also stated that it is conducting an independent investigation into the matters raised by Tahir and will respond accordingly.
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