Veteran South Africa leg-Spinner Imran Tahir, who is set to play his second Abu Dhabi T10 with the star-studded Northern Warriors side, expressed during a virtual press conference that he will be better than what he was in the previous season. He said that he will use his experience from the previous season and come up with different plans and thoughts to bowl well in the tournament.
“Last year I was in T20 mode, and I was playing for the first time, so I found it quite difficult to bowl, but I didn’t do so bad. I just think I could have done better. Now, I have got that experience, and with my new plans, I am hoping that I’ll be able to bowl well in T10 cricket going forward, and I will try to bowl as tight as I can,” said Tahir.
He further added, “This will be my second year, so I will come up with a different plan and thoughts on how I need to be bowling in T10 if I get to bowl in the powerplay or in the death over so I’m really hoping that I will be better than what I was last year, and I think that’s how I should be going forward,” said Tahir.
When asked about how the bowlers approach in the T10 format, the 42-year-old player said, “Personally speaking, I don’t like to go for boundaries, I like to bowl tight so I don’t look for wickets. I rather have my teammates take wickets, and I’ll be very happy. Also, if I go tight, let’s say six-run an over or eight an over, I’ll think I did my job fantastically.”
The Proteas spinner is part of Northern Warriors, which consists of stalwarts like Chris Jordan, Moeen Ali and Rovman Powell. Speaking about the team’s chances, Tahir commented, “I have to be honest with you, if I have big names in my team or small names, I don’t look for that. I think once I get in and join the team, l will be very happy, and I want all of us to do well for the team. You know, we try our best because all the owners and sponsors put so much faith in us, and I think the main reason for me is that we just look to do well. I think the results can never be guaranteed, and it doesn’t matter whatever or whoever you have in your team, so for me, I think we just need to play well on the day to just try to get over the line, and just take one game at a time.”
Tahir also spoke about T10’s future and the possibility of the T10 World Cup. He reckoned, “The way T20 started people were saying the same for it, now T10 started, people are saying the same. I believe it is all the owners and sponsors efforts that the league is going on till date, so all the credit goes to them firstly, and I definitely feel that in the coming forward days it’s possible, if not now then in the coming 5-10 years it’s definitely possible for the T10 world cup to happen.”
Abu Dhabi T10 will be played held at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from 19 November – 4 December 2021.
About Abu Dhabi T10
Abu Dhabi T10 launched, owned and operated by T Ten Sports Management, having Abu Dhabi Cricket (ADC) as home to the thrilling series is the world’s only 10-over cricket tournament officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and licensed by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).
It brings together over 120 of world cricket’s biggest names to compete in the game’s fastest format.
With the support of the Abu Dhabi Government and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, ADC and T Ten Sports Management (TSM) have consistently grown the series and won worldwide acclaim for mounting a successful season in Jan/Feb 2021 despite challenging conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was safely delivered against a background of strict COVID prevention protocols and gained a global TV audience and praise as a world class event.
The fifth edition of this highly popular cricket spectacular will be held over 15 days from November 19-December 4, 2021 taking in the UAE’s 50th National Day weekend. Past Abu Dhabi T10 champions include the Kerala Kings, Maratha Arabians and Northern Warriors.