Imran Tahir, who has introduced a rare culture of spin bowling to this province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, has been rewarded for his bagful of wickets with a spot in South Africa's 14-man one-day squad for the forthcoming one-day series against India
Imran Tahir, who has introduced a rare culture of spin bowling to this province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, has been rewarded for his bagful of wickets with a spot in South Africa's 14-man one-day squad for the forthcoming one-day series against India. In the last 12 months, the curator here at Kingsmead has been shaving off grass from the surface just so the leg-spinner can help provincial side Dolphins steamroll visiting sides.
However, if Tahir debuts on Wednesday, he will face the sternest test of his career ufffd bowling to the celebrated Indian batting line-up ufffd albeit a depleted one without Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Test stars VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid.
"I have dreamt about bowling to these guys (Indian batsmen) all my life and now that could be coming true.
Just the thought of bowling to Sachin Tendulkar brings a spring to my stride. If given the opportunity, I will try to make an impression," Tahir told MiD DAY.
The 31-year old has played cricket everywhere from his native Pakistan to England and now South Africa. He was keen on playing international cricket for Pakistan but the bag-packing free spirit landed in the rainbow nation in 2006 for the sake of his lady love.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) intervened to speed up the process but Tahir only qualified to play for the national team almost a year later, on New Year's Day 2011. He has taken 15 wickets at an average of 17.00 in nine matches in the MTN40 competition this season and in his 96 List A appearances has 140 scalps at an average of 22.74. He has also been fast-tracked into South Africa's 30-man preliminary World Cup squad.
"I am not going in with any plans, or pre-conceived notions. World Cup is not even on my mind just yet. I just want to enjoy the moment. In January 2009, I spent a day in the South African camp (when I was picked for the Test match against England) and the response I got was terrific.
"This is the moment I have been waiting for," an emotional Tahir signed off.
