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Nottinghamshire sign Pakistan batter Tayyab Tahir for One-Day Cup run

Meera ChandranPublished 7d ago3 min readBased on 6 sources
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Nottinghamshire sign Pakistan batter Tayyab Tahir for One-Day Cup run
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Nottinghamshire have signed Pakistan batter Tayyab Tahir for their next three One-Day Cup fixtures, bringing in a player with international experience across both white-ball formats to cover a gap in the top order.

The 33-year-old replaces opener George Munsey, who is away on international duty with Scotland. Tahir is expected to make his county debut on Sunday 2 August, when Nottinghamshire face Kent at Beckenham in a Group A fixture starting at 11am. He will also be available for games against Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire later in the week. Trent Bridge

The short-term deal, announced on Nottinghamshire's official website on 31 July, reunites Tahir with One-Day Cup head coach Paul Franks. The two first worked together four years ago, when Franks was involved with Central Punjab in Pakistan's domestic setup and Tahir was on the province's books. Geo Super

Tahir has played 11 One-Day Internationals and eight T20 internationals for Pakistan. He also bowls leg-spin, which gives Nottinghamshire an extra option in the middle overs of a 50-over game — the phase where fielding restrictions ease and sides typically try to squeeze the scoring rate through tight, rotating bowlers. BBC Sport

In a follow-up published on Trent Bridge's newsroom on 1 August, Tahir expressed excitement about the opportunity. The club confirmed the fixture details and his availability window in the same update. Trent Bridge

For Nottinghamshire, the signing is practical rather than headline-grabbing. Losing Munsey to Scotland duty left a hole at the top of the order, and three group games in quick succession — Kent on Sunday, then Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire — is not a stretch a county wants to navigate with a patched-up batting card. Tahir's record in Pakistan's domestic 50-over competition, where he has been a consistent run-scorer for Central Punjab, is what made him an appealing short-term fix.

The Franks connection matters here. A coach who has already worked with a player knows his temperament, his routines, and where he likes to score. That familiarity cuts down the adjustment period that usually comes with an overseas signing arriving mid-tournament — Tahir will not need weeks to settle into a dressing room or learn what is expected of him.

Nottinghamshire's One-Day Cup campaign continues with the Kent fixture at Beckenham on Sunday, 11am start.