Imran Tahir

[Rana]

Originally Posted by Afridirocks i doubt he will make his debut tomorrow johan botha will play as a spinner i think

No RSA spinner is better than an Asian spinner at international level.

[Ryankhan]

Originally Posted by Rana No RSA spinner is better than an Asian spinner at international level.

Totally agree with you and its sad to see tahir couldnt play for Pak. best of luck buddy and i hope u get success on your debut

[W63L35]

Imran Tahir is not in 30 players annouced for the WC.... now if he does play vs India and performs well, will ICC allow Sout Africa to to select a player from outside the 30 announced?

[Newton_fan]

Not 2marrow but he surely will Debut in this series. The Thread is not only for his 1 ODI performance

[Impala_KaifTamasha]

Really hope he bowls well

[Random Aussie]

Originally Posted by Rana No RSA spinner is better than an Asian spinner at international level.

Botha is not a spinner he is javelin thrower.

[talha3]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Botha is not a spinner he is javelin thrower.

[srh]

He probably will not make debut tomorrow.

[Mobashir]

According to cricinfo he is not making hs debut for sure...
But i hope he plays and plays well...

[*sallu*]

Won't get more than a game or 2.

[cricket_fever]

Originally Posted by *sallu* Won't get more than a game or 2.

they have gotta try out du Plessis as well

[Zain93]

I'm assuming he's a lesser version of Danish since he never got picked. But I wish him the best. He's taken a very long road to achieve his dream and I hope he succeeds.

[Newton_fan]

Not Playing .

Hope that Botha Perform poorly.

[BoomBoomCricket]

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Sc.../63/63664.html

Interesting funny old scorecard above

These were the days when he played for PakU19 along side people like Kamran Akmal against Australia which had the likes of Haddin and North at the time

Amazing stuff when considering how far these guys have gone since those good old days

[BoomBoomCricket]

^

It's fascinating stuff indeed. Even national youth sides used to quite comfortably tour Pakistan back then. Marcus North getting a double ton in Sheikhupura, remarkable! Times have changed considerably. Many players are products of our domestic cricketing system since childhood and its admirable how they have managed to work their ways up the ladder to national and global recognition. The significance of youth cricket for any international cricketing establishment speaks volumes about their general performance and progressiveness. Just needs to be nurtured and materialised effectively and the system needs to continue to be promoted and emphasised. Grass root levels are where stars are made.

[Sledger]

It truly is remarkable! Marcus North scoring not one but TWO centuries in a game?!! Unbelievable.

[Justcrazy]

Tahir deserves a chance seriously. He has worked hard. Apart from been an attacking option he is no mug with the bat. They should give him a fair run.

[W63L35]

I would be extremely surpised if Imran Tahir gets a chance vs India.....because;

# Why would SAF selectors give a chance for match practice to a bowler who is not in the WC squad?

# If they give him a chance, and he performs well... then it will be an egg on the selector's face who did not select him for WC sqaud.

[Jo_Don]

Originally Posted by W63L35 I would be extremely surpised if Imran Tahir gets a chance vs India.....because; # Why would SAF selectors give a chance for match practice to a bowler who is not in the WC squad? # If they give him a chance, and he performs well... then it will be an egg on the selector's face who did not select him for WC sqaud.

He's in the prelim WC squad. Jonathan Vandiar has been asked to step aside to make room for Tahir.

[Amjid Javed]

S.A do need a 2nd decent spinner for the world cup so Tahir may get a go against India to see what he can or cant do.

[BoomBoomCricket]

I'm sure they'll give him a run some time during the course of the ODI series. He is too good not to be considered and left out for long.

They will want to have a look at him before they have to finalise their WC Squad.

Anyway, SA are doing brilliantly. On track for a 2-0 lead.

[W63L35]

Originally Posted by Jo_Don He's in the prelim WC squad. Jonathan Vandiar has been asked to step aside to make room for Tahir.

I must have missed the news.

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2011-01-...orld-cup-squad

[WithLoveFromCanada]

Originally Posted by W63L35 I would be extremely surpised if Imran Tahir gets a chance vs India.....because; # Why would SAF selectors give a chance for match practice to a bowler who is not in the WC squad? # If they give him a chance, and he performs well... then it will be an egg on the selector's face who did not select him for WC sqaud.

what are you on about W63L35? he's in the world cup squad.

[WithLoveFromCanada]

Imran Tahir is picked in the world cup squad. Definitely he's going to play in next game.

[*sallu*]

Not necessary, as I've said in the squads thread, there are rumours going around they are saving him purposely as a secret weapon

[WithLoveFromCanada]

so they're going to take an uncapped player to world cup? Because if he's taken to cleaners over there then south african selectors & team management will have no place to hide.

[*sallu*]

I was just trying to find an article on cricinfo but can't find it where something is said about Tahir being saved as a secret weapon for the world cup and RSA don't want to play him because India is in the same group

[*sallu*]

Yes, South African coach or Smith said, we don't care because its not like he isn't a seasoned campaigner, so it doesn't matter

Smith said its a dream for him to have an attacking spinner like Tahir in his side

[Crazy_K]

They need to test him out and not be worried about having to have him debut against India.
If he's a good enough bowler, he'll manage to get wickets if the batsmen try to get on top of him

[cricnut]

Whenever any team tries to play smart by not giving chance to any player under the excuse of using him as a secret weapon , the plan usually backfires. During the 2007 world cup Super Eight match between Sri Lanka and Australia , Sri Lanka rested Malinga , Murali and Vaas giving the same excuse of secret weapon and we all saw what happened in the finals

[Hooked _for_6]

I think Smith is waiting until the WC to unleash the new Monte Panesar.

[srh]

SA is mismanaging Imran Tahir big time. He has not debut yet and he is in their World Cup 15 squad. Unbelievable. Play him now there are only 2 ODIs left before World Cup.

[Bullet Drive]

I actually talked to him when he was playing a game against England for Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

[*sallu*]

Imran Tahir is being saved as a secret weapon by South Africa for use in next month's World Cup, but the opposition are not the only people he will catch by surprise. Wicketkeeper AB de Villiers has yet to stand behind the stumps to the Pakistan-born legspinner in a match situation. Adjusting to a wrist spinner, may prove a "challenge," according to Daryn Smit, who is the wicketkeeper at the Dolphins franchise that Tahir plays for in domestic cricket. Tahir only moved to the Dolphins this season and Smit said he learnt to keep to the legspinner by playing against him previously. "I was lucky because I was able to pick him when I was facing him and that helped me when it came to keeping to him." Tahir's biggest variation from the legbreak is his googly, which is also his wicket-taking ball. "The only way to pick it is to watch how it comes out of the hand," Smit said, indicating that it is not easily read off the pitch. "That's the real difficulty, because you can't be going one way for the legbreak and then he's actually bowling a googly." Even though Smit adjusted quickly to keeping to Tahir in the first-class competition, he still found it testing to do the job in the MTN40 limited overs tournament because of the number of day/night games. "Imran is harder to pick up at night, especially when he makes subtle changes with his hand," Smit said. "Against a black sight-screen and under artificial lights, it takes some getting used to." Three of South Africa's six group stage matches are day-night affairs, including the opening match against West Indies. Both their warm-up games will be played under lights, so de Villiers should have at least one opportunity to get used to Tahir in the dark. It appears that de Villiers has a tricky job ahead of him, but Smit is confident in his ability to adjust to Tahir, having known de Villiers since his youth. "A lot of people say AB is a part-time keeper, but I know that he isn't. At Under-19 level, I was the first-choice 'keeper and he was the back-up and he was a good keeper," Smit said. de Villiers is not the only one who will have to adjust to having Tahir in the side. South Africa have not had an aggressive spinner since Paul Adams and Graeme Smith will have to learn how to manage Tahir. "He is an attacking spinner and that means he is going to go for runs. It may mean setting slightly more defensive fields," Smit said. He advised that a little bit of risk, in allowing Tahir to concede a few runs, will go a long way because "every time he bowls I feel he's got a chance to take a wicket." While Smit is looking forward to seeing how Tahir fits into the South Africa side, the bulk of his anticipation is reserved simply for watching his team-mate make his debut. He said that everyone in the Dolphins squad is eager to see Tahir bowl on the international stage. "In this one-day series [against India], we waited for the starting line up every game to see if he was there. We all know what a matchwinner he can be and we know he will do well." Although Tahir has no international experience, Smit thinks he is more than ready to step up to the big stage. "He has over 500 wickets at first-class level and even though it is very different to international cricket, the years of experience will have set him up well. The conditions in the subcontinent should suit his bowling style. "If he offers the national team half of what he's offered the Dolphins, they'll do well."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cric...ry/498296.html

[Atif]

With Botha in the side, i very much doubt Imran will get a game during the WC.

[cricket_fever]

i think sa are hiding Tahir and are gonna use him as a new weapon in the WC....as not many batsmen have played him b4

[insaftak]

Good Luck to Imran Tahir.

I will be rooting for him. I expect him to take 2-3 wicket and give around 40 runs.

[Borg]

Got first one

[Amir]

I feel he is trying real hard to show he is South African. That celebration seemed so forced and a little awkward. Then there is his hair colour and how its been died.

Maybe I am reading too much into his mannerisms, but best of luck.

[IAJ]

From cricinfo's commentary:

"International man of mystery, Tahir, comes back on. "

Why are they calling him man of mystery? Even when he took his first wicket today they said:- Mystery man strikes

[PakPlayer]

2 wickets in two over bloody hell

[ElRaja]

Originally Posted by Amir I feel he is trying real hard to show he is South African. That celebration seemed so forced and a little awkward. Then there is his hair colour and how its been died. Maybe I am reading too much into his mannerisms, but best of luck.

he got his first international wicket, of course he gonna celebrate. just got another, has good control.

whats wrong with dying your hair, afridi and shehzad have them died too.

[H]

Originally Posted by IAJ From cricinfo's commentary: "International man of mystery, Tahir, comes back on. " Why are they calling him man of mystery? Even when he took his first wicket today they said:- Mystery man strikes

]#


Coz apparently he is mystery and no one figures him out

[ElRaja]

he seems to be quite hard to pick in the flight.

[Amir]

Originally Posted by ElRaja he got his first international wicket, of course he gonna celebrate. just got another, has good control. whats wrong with dying your hair, afridi and shehzad have them died too.

I am just looking at his body language. Maybe that is how he celebrates but it does look very weird Like a 5 year old kid taking a wicket.

Dying hair thing, never seen that colour on Pakistani. Anyways, he just showed he is Pakistani....dropped a easy return catch by only going inw ith one hand

[KA$H]

call me a cynic but the wkt celebration looked a bit rehearsed

esp kissing teh badge etc

still good stuff!

[Legendary_Sage]

Originally Posted by Amir I am just looking at his body language. Maybe that is how he celebrates but it does look very weird Like a 5 year old kid taking a wicket. Dying hair thing, never seen that colour on Pakistani. Anyways, he just showed he is Pakistani....dropped a easy return catch by only going inw ith one hand

I am sure will be happy with him.

[Krishnan]

I know its very early days but atleast for the sake of cricket i want to see a leg spinner in cricket performing well.They are fast disappearing now in international cricket.

[the Great Khan]

after pakistan I dont mind seeing SA win..good team with amla who is a member of the beard club..(yes I am a member too..lol)

[Impala_KaifTamasha]

Bowled really well toady so far, shame he missed the return catch off his bowling

[Hando]

Originally Posted by Krishnan I know its very early days but atleast for the sake of cricket i want to see a leg spinner in cricket performing well.They are fast disappearing now in international cricket.

Lala is still keeping it alive

[DeadlyVenom]

Another wicket for tahir just now. Excellent debut.

[0tt0man]

4 wickets as of yet and on debut Great going by the youngster

[the Great Khan]

tahir showing us what we could have had..insistence on kaneria was our downfall..

sa looking like pakistan of old, attacking fast bowlers with a good legspinner and decent allrounders..plue awesome middle order!!

[Ahsan_8]

After Seeing him Bowl Today I'd rate him a notch below Afridi .hehe

[Muhammad Waleed]

Imran Tahir rocked today.

[Shaddy]

can we rename him to "yeh look"

[Schickelgruber]

He is very average. Would have been better had he played for Pakistan. I still think he is a traitor.

[ethan hunt]

he is okay doesnt really turn the ball much but im very impressed by his control and the length he bowls ........ great control for a leggie but ultimately he needs to turn the ball a bit more if he wants to have a greater impact over a longer period of time

[TNA]

Originally Posted by Schickelgruber He is very average. Would have been better had he played for Pakistan. I still think he is a traitor.

What contradiction!

[in_cutter]

Originally Posted by Amir I feel he is trying real hard to show he is South African. That celebration seemed so forced and a little awkward. Then there is his hair colour and how its been died. Maybe I am reading too much into his mannerisms, but best of luck.

Yep, you are reading too much into it. He deserves this. Guy is a class act...good for him.

[Shaddy]

Originally Posted by Schickelgruber He is very average. Would have been better had he played for Pakistan. I still think he is a traitor.

huh? lol

Do you posses any brain cells? You call him very average and then you wish that he shouldve played for Pak?

Traitor, why? Call those B****ds traitors who play for Pak and fix matches.


Welldone Imran Tahir for getting into SA squad the way he did and great performance. I hope there are many more to come.

[in_cutter]

Originally Posted by Schickelgruber He is very average. Would have been better had he played for Pakistan. I still think he is a traitor.

You do type some rubbish

How is he a traitor?? Traitors are those fixers! Every cricketer dreams of playing at International level. Pak ignored him, so he looked elsewhere. He deserves this.

"Would have been better had he played for Pakistan"- if you think he is average, how would he have been better playing for Pak??

I still maintain he is better than Kaneria- not judging by todays perfornance because I have'nt watched him today. He showed many variations for his Eng domestic side.

Schikelburger is just bitter.

[Rizwan25]

Originally Posted by Shaddy huh? lol Do you posses any brain cells? You call him very average and then you wish that he shouldve played for Pak? Traitor, why? Call those B****ds traitors who play for Pak and fix matches. Welldone Imran Tahir for getting into SA squad the way he did and great performance. I hope there are many more to come.

get used to it boy

[pakistan_pride1]

man he would be good their in South Africa but in Pakistan we have a billion better bowlers than him even though hes pretty good.

[in_cutter]

Originally Posted by pakistan_pride1 in Pakistan we have a billion better bowlers than him even though hes pretty good.

If you say so

[Legendary_Sage]

Originally Posted by the Great Khan tahir showing us what we could have had..insistence on kaneria was our downfall.. sa looking like pakistan of old, attacking fast bowlers with a good legspinner and decent allrounders..plue awesome middle order!!

Yes our persistance with some useless and mediocre talent like Sami. Malik, Kami post(2005), Kaneria,Butt, Farhat etc has hurt us a lot.
Lets hope we have good times ahead :aali.
On topic well done to Imran tahir.

[asifp]

good performance today. I guess if he had been given a chance by Pakistan and worked with someone like Qadir he could have been a wonderful bowler.

still looks good and will be part of South Africa for a few years

[cricwiz]

Originally Posted by Schickelgruber He is very average. Would have been better had he played for Pakistan. I still think he is a traitor.

You live out of Pakistan. I still think you are a traitor

[cricket_fever]

awesome performance IT!! aye what a cool name "IT"

looks like SA has found their long awaited spinner

[BoomBoomCricket]

Originally Posted by Schickelgruber He is very average. Would have been better had he played for Pakistan. I still think he is a traitor.

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Sc.../64/64996.html
^When Imran played for Pakistan at under 19 level.
He was determined like anything to play for Pakistan but was a victim of politics. He tried his heart out and performed like anything. However, the selectors ignored him and we had too many spinners at the time. He married a South African women and upon her recommendations decided to play in the South African domestic arena where he did exceptionally well and now has been recognised as an international cricketer. A quality highly rated leg spinner who thoroughly well deserves to be playing international cricket. Ideally, it should have come for Pakistan, but it was not be but still its good to see him promoting diversity and getting his opportunity.

[BoomBoomCricket]

I predicted Imran Tahir will be the leading wicket taker in this World Cup at the start! So far he has not disappointed. All the hype and attention was worth it! Take that! A 4 for on debut. South Africa have something special in their armouries and have found that missing ingredient they always dreamt of having in their ranks, a quality legspinner! The Pakistani born shines for the Proteas!

[Omar Malik]

Just seen the scorecard on cricinfo and was good to see he's had a good debut so far with 4-41 off his 10 overs against WI being the economical out of the Saffers spinners aswell...Will try and catch some highlights of the game later on tonight InshahAllah and see how's he bowled too!

[TNA]

his celebrations pretty much summed up how much he loves south africa

[Omar Malik]

Originally Posted by TNA his celebrations pretty much summed up how much he loves south africa

I guess that's going to come naturally as with the team and country your playing for it has to be with pride!

[TNA]

just teasing those people who are still arguing where did PCB go wrong with Tahir..

[ZenBowman]

Looked like a top spinner, not sure why he wasn't noticed in Pakistan, I can't think of any Pakistani spinner at this point who is better.

[zarak]

Originally Posted by ZenBowman Looked like a top spinner, not sure why he wasn't noticed in Pakistan, I can't think of any Pakistani spinner at this point who is better.

agree looks fitter than kaneria..can prob bat too

[mastermind_quad]

very good looking bloke ...and friendly to spectators ...

and very good start of career .....

[sh_ri71]

13,14 years back always while following pakistan cricket i found two names featuring tahir and doing well those were tahir khan the offie from karachi and imran tahir and they both did well most of times and then suddenly keneria came from nowhere.