Imran Tahir rewrote the record books against the Saint Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League, with the Guyana Amazon Warriors spinner becoming the oldest bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Twenty20 match. As reported by Mid-Day, the 47-year-old returned figures of five wickets for 17 runs from his four overs in the CPL 2026 fixture.
Tahir was aged 47 years and 166 days when he completed the haul, surpassing the mark he had set himself only a year earlier. In the 2025 edition of the tournament, playing against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, he took a five-for at 46 years and 148 days, which was then the oldest such feat in the format.
The South African spin legend is now just 11 wickets short of becoming only the fourth bowler to reach 600 wickets in T20 cricket. His career tally stands at 589 wickets from 461 matches, with six five-wicket hauls to his name. Only Rashid Khan, with 736, Sunil Narine on 657 and Dwayne Bravo with 631 have gone past that figure.
For followers of the Saint Lucia Kings, the defeat came at the hands of one of the most enduring performers the region's franchise tournament has seen. The Kings represent the island in the CPL and play their home matches at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Beausejour, Gros Islet, the venue named after the island's most famous cricketer.
Daren Sammy remains a central figure in the island's cricketing story. Born in 1983 and raised in the south east of Saint Lucia, he became the first Saint Lucian to play international cricket for the West Indies, debuting in one-day cricket against Bangladesh in 2004. His Test debut against England in 2007 brought seven wickets for 66 runs, and he is best remembered as the captain who lifted the ICC World Twenty20 trophy in 2012 and again in 2016, the only man to have done so twice.
The Kings' home CPL fixtures have traditionally been staged in August, when the ground fills for floodlit games against teams from across the region, and the 2026 home window is listed as running from August 12 to 21, with matches against the Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Antigua and Barbuda among the fixtures. Anyone timing a trip around the tournament should note that the best time to visit St Lucia for cricket depends on each year's schedule, which changes annually, so it is worth checking the current fixture list before booking.
Tickets for CPL matches are sold through the league's official ticketing platform, and spectators are advised to arrive at least an hour before play begins. Parking and gate details are usually published ahead of each match, and children are generally welcome, though the age policy attached to each ticket should be checked.
The tournament continues to draw visitors well beyond the region. Demand for holidays to St Lucia rises during the CPL window, with cricket fans combining match days at the Daren Sammy ground with time on the island itself. Getting there is straightforward, with flights to St Lucia serving the island from the UK and North America.
Accommodation spans every budget. There is a wide choice of hotels in St Lucia close to the north of the island where the ground sits, and the island's all-inclusive resorts in St Lucia are popular with families combining cricket with a beach break. Travellers seeking something quieter often look instead at villas in St Lucia, while the luxury hotels in St Lucia around Rodney Bay and the north west coast place visitors within easy reach of the stadium.
Beyond the cricket, the island offers plenty to fill the days between fixtures. The beaches in St Lucia, from Reduit Beach near Gros Islet to the coves of the south and west coast, are a short drive from the ground, and the range of things to do in St Lucia includes the Pitons, rainforest walks and boat trips. The island is also a regular port of call for cruise lines, and St Lucia cruises bring additional visitors to Gros Islet during the season.
Match nights at the Daren Sammy ground carry the flavour of Caribbean cricket culture, with music and celebration woven into the evening. Food and rum in St Lucia are part of the experience, with local dishes and island-produced rum on sale around the venue, and the wider Gros Islet area is known for its Friday night street party.
Tahir's milestone gives the 2026 CPL another storyline as the league stage progresses, and the Kings will look to regroup as their home fixtures at Gros Islet continue. His next wickets will be watched closely across the Caribbean, with the 600 mark now firmly in sight.
For Saint Lucia, the tournament remains a showcase moment in the island's calendar, and with fixtures, dates and ticket details refreshed each year, fans planning ahead for the next CPL campaign should confirm the schedule before arranging travel.
Plan your St Lucia holiday
- Hotels in St Lucia: resorts, villas and boutique stays compared.
- Things to do in St Lucia: from the Pitons to the sulphur springs.
- Best time to visit St Lucia: weather, seasons and prices by month.
- Flights to St Lucia: routes from the UK and what to expect.
- Plan your St Lucia holiday: ask us anything, or send an enquiry.