Hamza Tahir

{{short description|Scottish cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Hamza Tahir

| image =

| country = Scotland

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|11|9|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Slow left-arm orthodox

| role = Spin bowler

| family = Majid Haq (cousin)

| international = true

| odidebutdate = 17 August

| odidebutyear = 2019

| odidebutagainst = PNG

| odicap = 69

| lastodidate = 17 February

| lastodiyear = 2023

| lastodiagainst = Nepal

| T20Idebutdate = 12 June

| T20Idebutyear = 2018

| T20Idebutagainst = Pakistan

| T20Icap = 49

| lastT20Idate = 14 March

| lastT20Iyear = 2024

| lastT20Iagainst = UAE

| columns = 4

| column1 = ODI

| matches1 = 31

| runs1 = 26

| bat avg1 = 4.33

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 13

| deliveries1 = 1,316

| wickets1 = 40

| bowl avg1 = 25.82

| fivefor1 = 1

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 5/38

| catches/stumpings1 = 5/–

| column2 = T20I

| matches2 = 17

| runs2 = 3

| bat avg2 = 3.00

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 3*

| deliveries2 = 372

| wickets2 = 23

| bowl avg2 = 22.26

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 4/30

| catches/stumpings2 = 5/–

| column3 = LA

| matches3 = 32

| runs3 = 26

| bat avg3 = 3.71

| 100s/50s3 = 0/0

| top score3 = 13

| deliveries3 = 1,508

| wickets3 = 40

| bowl avg3 = 26.60

| fivefor3 = 1

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 5/38

| catches/stumpings3 = 5/–

| column4 = T20

| matches4 = 17

| runs4 = 3

| bat avg4 = 3.00

| 100s/50s4 = 0/0

| top score4 = 3*

| deliveries4 = 372

| wickets4 = 23

| bowl avg4 = 22.26

| fivefor4 = 0

| tenfor4 = 0

| best bowling4 = 4/30

| catches/stumpings4 = 5/–

| date = 5 August 2024

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/751151.html Cricinfo

}}

Hamza Tahir (born 9 November 1995) is a former Scottish cricketer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/751151.html |title=Hamza Tahir |accessdate=12 June 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}{{cite web|url=https://emergingcricket.com/insight/t20-world-cup-five-young-associate-talents-to-keep-an-eye-on/5/ |title=Hamza Tahir, Scotland – Age: 25 |work=Emerging Cricket |date=9 October 2021 |access-date=10 October 2021}} He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Scotland against Pakistan on 12 June 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1127300.html |title=1st T20I, Pakistan tour of Ireland, England and Scotland at Edinburgh, Jun 12 2018 |accessdate=12 June 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} He made his List A debut for Scotland against Oman on 20 February 2019, following the 2018–19 Oman Quadrangular Series. He was born in Paisley to Pakistani parents.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1173597.html |title=2nd Match, Scotland tour of Oman at Al Amarat, Feb 20 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=20 February 2019}}

In June 2019, he was selected to represent Scotland A in their tour to Ireland to play the Ireland Wolves.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketscotland.com/scotland-a-squad-selected-for-ireland-trip/ |title=Scotland A Squad Selected for Ireland Trip |work=Cricket Scotland |accessdate=5 June 2019}} The next month, he was selected to play for the Glasgow Giants in the inaugural edition of the Euro T20 Slam cricket tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27222261/eoin-morgan-represent-dublin-franchise-inaugural-euro-t20-slam |title=Eoin Morgan to represent Dublin franchise in inaugural Euro T20 Slam |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=19 July 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cricketeurope.com/DATABASE/ARTICLES2019/articles/000010/001060.shtml |title=Euro T20 Slam Player Draft completed |work=Cricket Europe |accessdate=19 July 2019 |archive-date=19 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719163945/https://www.cricketeurope.com/DATABASE/ARTICLES2019/articles/000010/001060.shtml |url-status=dead }} However, the following month the tournament was cancelled.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27387389/inaugural-euro-t20-slam-cancelled-two-weeks-notice |title=Inaugural Euro T20 Slam cancelled at two weeks' notice |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=14 August 2019}}

He was part of Scotland's One Day International (ODI) squad for the 2019 Scotland Tri-Nation Series.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketscotland.com/scotland-squad-announced-for-cricket-world-cup-league-two/ |title=Scotland squad announced for Cricket World Cup League Two |work=Cricket Scotland |accessdate=31 July 2019}} He made his ODI debut for Scotland, against Papua New Guinea, on 17 August 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1196672.html |title=13rd Match, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 at Aberdeen, Aug 17 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=17 August 2019}} In his next match, against Oman, he took his first five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/49387751 |title=Cricket World Cup League 2: Scotland beat Oman by 85 runs |work=BBC Sport |accessdate=18 August 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketscotland.com/five-star-tahir-sees-scotland-to-victory/ |title=Five-star Tahir sees Scotland to victory |work=Cricket Scotland |accessdate=18 August 2019}}

In September 2019, he was named in Scotland's squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketscotland.com/squads-announced-for-t20i-tri-series-in-ireland-and-icc-mens-t20-world-cup-qualifier/ |title=Squads announced for T20I Tri-Series in Ireland and ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier |work=Cricket Scotland |accessdate=12 September 2019}} In September 2021, Tahir was named in Scotland's provisional squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketscotland.com/captain-coetzer-leads-scotland-squad-to-icc-t20-world-cup/ |title=Captain Coetzer leads Scotland squad to ICC Men's T20 World Cup |work=Cricket Scotland |access-date=9 September 2021}}

In June 2024, Tahir announced his retirement at age 28 from professional cricket after being dismissed from the Scotland national team. He blamed racism as the reason for his retirement. He also threatened to take legal action against Cricket Scotland. A spokesperson for Cricket Scotland said Tahir was a "tremendous servant to the Scotland men's national team."{{cite news |title=Bowler in legal threat over Cricket Scotland racism allegation |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv22g40yz16o |access-date=1 July 2024 |work=www.bbc.com |date=26 June 2024}}