The figures of 5/17 are also Tahir's career-best T20 bowling returns, improving on the 5/21 he recorded in CPL 2025. Saint Lucia Kings were bowled out for 119 runs, and Guyana Amazon Warriors won the match. Quentin Sampson contributed a rapid 37 off 11 balls at a strike rate of 336.36 during the Warriors' chase.
Tahir's spell included a sharp-turning wrong'un that trapped Kamil Pooran lbw for 43. He then dismissed allrounder Matthew Forde in similar fashion, with a delivery that zipped in to crash into the top of off stump after Forde offered no shot, expecting the ball to turn away. Tahir celebrated each wicket with his familiar exuberance, blowing kisses to the Guyana crowd.
The Warriors had suffered their first defeat of the CPL 2026 season against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons on September 8, before bouncing back against Kings the very next day. Tahir has played 461 T20 matches since making his debut in domestic Pakistan cricket in 2006 and is now 11 wickets away from 600 T20 wickets.
What broke the previous world record?
Before Tahir's effort in CPL 2025, the record for the oldest player to take a T20 five-wicket haul was held by Tomakunte Ritawa of the Cook Islands, who claimed 5/19 against Fiji in 2022 at the age of 46 years and 299 days. Tahir first broke that record in CPL 2025 with his 5/21 against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at 46 years and 148 days, and he has now extended it further with his 5/17 against Saint Lucia Kings. Tahir reflected on his bowling approach after the match, explaining that the conditions at Providence Stadium played a role in his success."My lines and lengths were very good. It pitched on line and obviously turned very sharply. In Providence, you get that, but in the previous two games, I wasn't getting that kind of bite, but the credit goes to the length I bowled, I think. For me, my role is obviously to contain [the opposition] in the middle. I'm an attacking bowler. If the wickets come, I don't mind," Tahir said, as quoted by Cricinfo.
What keeps Tahir motivated at 47?
Tahir has continued playing T20 cricket well into his late forties, and he pointed to a personal source of motivation when speaking after the match. He referenced his son, who keeps pushing him to continue playing. Tahir has, on multiple occasions in the past, spoken of how he performs different celebrations after picking up wickets for his son."I think my son is the main guy who has been pushing me. He keeps telling me: 'Daddy, one more year...one more year and then you need to play with me'. So, it's a kind of motivation, I want to give it to him and all the youngsters who are watching me around the world," Tahir said.He is 11 wickets away from reaching 600 T20 wickets across a career that began in 2006, and Guyana Amazon Warriors face Trinbago Knight Riders on September 11, 2026 in their penultimate group-stage game. Tahir spoke warmly about the support of the Guyana fans and the challenge ahead, saying,
"The [Guyana] fans have always been there and really grateful to them. They come every year in big numbers and we highly appreciate their support because when we play here, it's different than anywhere else. That kind of motivates me as well. Look, Trinidad is a very, very good team and it's a good challenge again. We're looking at one game at a time and we need to come up with our plans. They need to come with their plans and we can't wait for the game," he concluded.