Imran Tahir's is an extraordinary story — it's the story of a cricket nomad from Pakistan who came to South Africa in 2006 to marry the woman he loved and stayed to earn a call-up to the World Cup squad as a leg-spinner.“It's a very big honour for me, it's the only dream I've had,” said the 31-year-old Tahir, who on Monday was added to South Africa's preliminary World Cup squad, making him almost a certainty to be picked for the tournament in the sub-continent.
“It's every cricketer's dream to play in the World Cup,” he added.
“If I am in the top 30, I am very pleased. Hopefully, I get picked and I will give my 100 per cent for the country.”
Tahir, who was first called up over a year ago against England and then withdrawn because of uncertainty over his eligibility, has been a consistent first class performer.
He has 547 wickets at an average of 24.93, having represented the Dolphins, the Titans, and the Easterns in South Africa, and Hampshire, Middlesex, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire in English county cricket. His first team was Lahore.
Tahir' s recent form — 42 wickets in five first class games and 15 wickets in the 40-over competition at an average of 17 — has encouraged South Africa to pick him as soon as he became eligible. He will have the opportunity to prove his ability at the international level in the five-match series against India.
“It's always tough for a spinner to bowl against India,” said Tahir, who once had a master-class with Shane Warne in Hampshire.
“I've got nothing to lose. I've been bowling well the whole season. If I put in good energy and take it with me, when I get the opportunity, hopefully I can do well. I have always been an attacking bowler. I am more than happy to go for a few runs and get a few wickets.”
Both South Africa and India practised at Kingsmead on Monday. The first ODI is scheduled to be played here on Wednesday.
