Hampshire lose Tahir for final match

	Imran Tahir has made a huge impression at Hampshire © Getty Images

Hampshire will be without Imran Tahir, the legspinner, for their crucial final Championship match against Nottinghamshire starting on September 24. He has been recalled by the Titans, his South Africa franchise, for their pre-season training.

The club had hoped to retain Tahir for the final game - Hampshire are currently top of the Championship - but the Titans have held sway. He has been a key in Hampshire's resurgence during the second half of the season, taking 36 wickets at 17.25 in six matches, lifting them from the bottom of the table.

"He's done a great job. He's been the catalyst to all our positive results," Hampshire's acting manager Giles White told BBC Radio Solent.

"I'm disappointed. Titans allowed him to play for us, which has been great but unfortunately part of the deal was he'd have to return after the Surrey game. He's been fantastic over the last couple of months."

Tahir's last contribution for Hampshire was to take five wickets in the innings-and-122-run victory against Surrey last week. This has been by far his most successful stint in county cricket after previous spells with Middlesex and Yorkshire.

Hampshire are keen to have him back next summer, with captain, Dimitri Mascarenhas, a huge supporter. "If I have anything to do with it he'll be back next year," he said after the Surrey match.

In Tahir's absence Hampshire's spin bowling will be in the hands of Liam Dawson, the left-arm spinner, who has made a good recent impression with the bat and now will be expected to play a key role with the ball.