Imran Tahir to Jofra Archer: 7 cricketers who played for country outside their birth nation

Numerous cricketers have played for a country that happens to be different from the country that they were born in. The list is long, but there are a notable few, who made a name for themselves, despite putting aside the differences of their native homeland.

Cricketers, born in a country, have the ultimate aim of representing their nation in the long run. However, not all make it to the national level.

Consequently, owing to high competition in their native country, they tend to pursue their cricketing career in some other nation, where the contention is lesser, and their talent is rewarded by including them in the national side. On the same note, we take a look at some prominent cricketers, who played outside their indigenous homeland.

Andrew Symonds: The Australian all-rounder was one of the leading ones for the side during his tenure. However, he happens to be English and was born in Birmingham, to his English parents. He started his career with Queensland, before going on to make a name for himself in the Australian side. He played 26 Tests, 198 ODIs and 14 T20Is, and scored 6,887 international runs. Besides, he also claimed 165 wickets and won the 2003 and 2007 ICC World Cup.

Kevin Pietersen: The English top-order batsman was one of the most lethal batsmen in world cricket. However, what people barely know is that he actually is not English. Pietersen was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, where he played for Natal before moving to England and starting his English career with Nottinghamshire. Consequently, his skills were rewarded in the English side, as he went on to score 13,797 international runs in all the three formats, besides winning the 2010 ICC World T20.

Andy Flower: The Zimbabwean wicketkeeper-batsman is undoubtedly a legend for the side. However, he does not happen to be a true Zimbabwean, as he was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Nonetheless, after his family immediately moved to Zimbabwe, he began his cricketing career with Mashonaland. He went on to play 63 Tests, and 213 ODIs, scoring 4,794 and 6,786 runs, respectively, while he later coached England as well.

Andrew Strauss: The English batsman is one of the legends for the side. Being born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he moved to England at the age of six. Consequently, he began his career with Middlesex. He played 100 Tests, scoring 7,037 runs, besides scoring 4,205 runs in 127 ODIs. He also helped England win a couple of Ashes.

Jofra Archer: The current English pacer is making a name for himself, especially after leading England to their first-ever ICC World Cup win, in 2019. However, he originally belongs from Bridgetown, Barbados, in the Windies. Since he was born to an English father, he held the English citizenship. However, he was not eligible to play for the side since he did not live in England prior to his 18th birthday. While he represented Windies U-19 on three occasions in 2014, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) changed its regulations, making him eligible to play for England. He began his domestic career with Sussex, in 2016, before making his England debut in 2019. So far, he has claimed 73 international wickets, across formats.

Imran Tahir: He is one of the most lethal spinners in the world, who plays for South Africa. However, as the name suggests, he is really not a South African. Tahir was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and had even represented Pakistan in the 1998 ICC U-19 World Cup. However, he chose to move to South Africa, to marry his beloved, as it granted him citizenship. He made his national debut for the country in 2011. To date, he has claimed 293 wickets for the side, across formats.

Ben Stokes: Another prolific English all-rounder, who is having a great time with England, having won the 2019 World Cup. Nonetheless, some would be surprised to know that he is actually from New Zealand, born in Christchurch. After he moved to England at the age of 12, he began his career with Durham in 2009, before playing his first game for England in 2011. He is one of the top-most cricketers in today's date.