Biography

If you thought that Paul Adams from South Africa has a weird bowling action, have a look at Sohail Tanvir. His action deceived many experts and commentators who initially thought that he bowled off the wrong foot. A left arm pacer, he bowls off his right foot, also technically the correct one and caught batsman by shock when he broke through into the international arena.

Another one of Pakistan's many talents who didn't really make the cut; this left-arm medium pace bowler has had a roller-coaster of a career filled with highs and lows. Sohail Tanvir hails from the town of Rawalpindi and has made a valiant but rather ineffective attempt to secure his place in the national side as an all-rounder.

Tanvir made his Test debut in 2007 against India. Marred by inconsistent performances and injury woes, his international career came to a standstill in the year 2009. He burst onto the international circuit during the inaugural World Twenty20, where he picked up nine wickets and surprised many who doubted his talent. Tanvir continued his dominance in the shortest format of the game in the Indian T20 League where he took 22 wickets in 11 games for Rajasthan. However, his lack of success in the other formats has left him struggling to find a place in the national side. Fortunately, he was recalled to the Pakistani ODI side in 2011, for their series against Zimbabwe. A year later, he was signed up by the Highveld Lions for the 2012 Champions League T20 to be held in South Africa.

After being left out of the Pakistan ODI squad for over a year, Tanvir made his return in the series against South Africa in UAE in 2013 and performed decently to maintain his place in the following tour to South Africa and against Sri Lanka, back in UAE.