The 39-year-old South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir claims that he will probably take the retirement from the international cricket if South Africa wins the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England.
After making debut in the international cricket in 2011, the Protease leg-spinner has played 20 Tests, 86 ODIs and 36 T20Is where he has picked up a total of 255 wickets (57 wickets in Test, 141 wickets in ODI and 57 wickets in T20I). In present, Tahir is playing the limited-overs cricket, especially the ODI format, but he is struggling to maintain his form.
Talking about his career, Tahir said, “I’m trying to go as long as I can. I make sure I enjoy my game and I give what the team requires of me. I wouldn’t want to overstay in the team for too long. I want to leave with respect.
“It’s a bit early for me to say anything (about retirement),” he stated. “I’m loving the game at the moment. One thing I can say, if we win the World Cup then I’ll probably call it. It’s early for me, and I’m enjoying every opportunity I get to play for South Africa.”
Tahir was dropped during South Africa’s recent tour of Sri Lanka but has returned to the national squad in the ongoing home ODI series against Zimbabwe. Tahir also has been selected for the upcoming home T20I series against Zimbabwe. Tahir claimed that he has been working really hard on his fitness to stay in the team.
Tahir said, “I’ve been playing the game, which is very good for me. I’d rather be playing than having a rest. I’ve been working really hard on my fitness. We’ve got so many fit guys in our team, so if you want to keep the standards up, a guy like me, I need to be really up from a fitness point of view and make an impact. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m the kind of guy who loves challenges.
“I’m trying to focus my training and take that into the World Cup. I’m developing some bowling and fielding plans and things like that. And preparing for some difficult times when I might need to bowl, and I need to be really up for it whenever the captain needs me to bowl.”
Tahir is excited to play with the mystery left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi as he likes to guide the young spinners.
Tahir said, “It’s a really exciting time that we have another mystery bowler, Shamsi, and I’m really looking forward to playing with him if we play both together in any game. We do talk a lot about the game and make plans well in advance in any series or any game. And from my point of view I’m more than happy to help anyone who wants to talk about spin.
“It’s nice to see the spinners coming up. I’m really looking forward to sharing my knowledge with him, and with all the spinners I play with, even at franchise level for Dolphins. I always try to help spinners as much as I can wherever I go and play, anywhere in the world. I love to talk about bowling, and whoever comes for help I’m always there. Even in IPL, PSL, I try to help the youngsters as much as I can.”
