Man of the match Tahir still spinning at 37
AT 37, Imran Tahir may not have too many more years left in him, but the Proteas legspinner is enjoying playing cricket too much to worry about when the end may come.
Tahir has been priceless for the South African cricket team in one-day internationals for a number of seasons now.
On Saturday, he earned another man-of-the-match award after collecting 3/26 runs in his 10 overs.
His effort, coupled with that of Wayne Parnell, who also collected three scalps, helped South Africa to an eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka and a 1-0 series lead. Asked just how long he thought he could continue playing cricket, Tahir said that while he was still knocking opposition batsmen over, he would keep going.
“As long as I can. I’m doing well in the field so I’m enjoying myself. For me, the main thing is that as long as I am contributing to the team, that’s my main goal in my life,” Tahir said at the postmatch presser.
“When I’m not, I will probably have to be honest with myself. But at the moment I’m enjoying it and as long as the nation is happy with me I’m going to keep going.”
Pakistan-born Tahir said he would never lose the thrill of playing for South Africa and that good discipline had made sure that he was able to extend his career.
“I do all the hard work and take things quite seriously. Playing for South Africa is an absolute honour and I just don’t feel like I need to be relaxed,” he said.
“So every game I play I take it more than seriously and just think that it could be my last game and I need to do well.”
Tahir smiled when asked about playing in gale-force con- ditions in Port Elizabeth on Sat- urday.
“It was tough. Yeah, it was quite tough. It was hard for us all to bowl with and against the wind but I’m glad that as a bowling group we managed it very well.
“Our captain used us really well. We were very happy that in hard conditions like that we came through. I don’t think I’ve played in conditions like that for a long time.”
Captain AB de Villiers praised Tahir for the role he has played in the side as the number one spinner.
“Imran is in the best form that I’ve ever seen him in right now. He doesn’t bowl bad balls anymore. He always used to take wickets but I think you just don’t see bad balls at the moment, which makes him really difficult to play,” De Villiers said.
“It’s one thing with him picking up wickets, but he’s keeping the runs down as well.
“He plays with a lot of passion and I can’t come up with enough good things to say about him. I’m very proud of him.”
De Villiers hopes Tahir can make it to the 2019 World Cup, by which time the spin wizard will be 39.
“He still looks fresh out there. He looks like he can play for another 10 years. Let’s hope we have him for as long as possible.”