Not worried about future of Proteas cricket: Imran Tahir

Proteas’ leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who will play his last ODIon Saturday, believes that the future of South Africa cricket is in good handsas there is a lot of talent in the country.

Tahir made his ODI debut in February 2011 — just a monthbefore his 32nd birthday — but has still racked up a century of appearances,more than 170 wickets and the most dismissals by any South African at WorldCups, surpassing Allan Donald in the ongoing edition of the showpiece event.

   

And it will all come to an end for the 40-year-old who willretire from 50-over cricket after the South Africa-Australia match at the OldTrafford on Saturday.

While Tahir will look to finish on a high and help his sideto just a third win in the competition, the leg spinner feels goodbye to be thesaddest word.

“It will be quite a hurtful and sad moment for me, butI’ve prepared myself for that, so hopefully it will go well for me and theteam,” said Tahir.

“I’m not worried about future of the team — we’ve gotlots of youngsters. Obviously these youngsters need a bit of experience ofinternational cricket but that happens to all the teams all over the world. Istrongly believe there is a lot of talent but they just need experience andthen they’ll get to the stage where everyone wants to see South Africancricket.

“People expect higher and a lot from us — this WorldCup was totally different but I’m pretty sure things will be fine for SouthAfrica,” he added.

He also wants his team — which had a disastrous 2019 WorldCup campaign as they managed to register just two wins out of the first eightgames — to end on a good note.

“As a team, we need to think about finishing on a goodnote,” he said. “But it makes me feel very sad and emotional that I’mgoing to leave.”

It was always my dream always to play international cricketand I’m really grateful to everyone who helped me on the way. They accepted mefor who I was, the guy who came from overseas and got the opportunity and theyaccepted that.

“It’s a big moment of my life – I always wanted to playcricket and play as long as I could and now is the right time to go. I neverthought I’d be here in England playing my last ODI,” he added.

The leg-spinner has become famous for his enthusiasticcelebration after taking a wicket, as the Tahir train leaves the station and,with arms spread wide, chugs endearingly aimlessly around the infield.

The veteran sprints further in celebration than most quickbowlers’ run-ups but he has quashed suggestions that any wickets in a swansongwill be met with a new, even bigger celebration.

“There won’t be anything extra because I don’t have aclue what I do when I take wickets to be honest with you!” smiled Tahir.

“I never prepare for these things, they just happen butI’m happy people like it – it’s just my pure passion for the game,” headded.

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