Bengal Tigers coach Fleming praises old foe Zaheer Khan
dubai — After having enjoyed incredible success as New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming has shown his tactical acumen from the dressing room as Chennai Super Kings coach in the Indian Premier League.
Fleming, one of the sweetest timers of the cricket ball, now hopes to make an immediate impact at the T10 League as the Bengal Tigers coach.
The second season of the ICCapproved T10 League will get underway at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on November 21. And the 45-year-old Fleming can’t wait to return to a venue where he fought many a battle for the Black Caps.
“For me to come back to Sharjah is very exciting. I am looking forward to it from a coaching point of view. It’s a dream. It’s different, it’s refreshing. I am really loving this new challenge of winning games in just 20 overs,” Fleming told reporters in Dubai on Monday.
“This format has Olympic potential. It’s a concept that’s exciting for the fans. I see some real growth. World-class players want to come and play in this tournament. All the teams have got some wonderful players.”
Despite having a star-studded line-up, Bengal Tigers got a shot in the arm when they acquired Zaheer Khan. “He used to get me out a lot. So it’s great to have him on my side,” Fleming smiled.
“We watched him last night in the nets. He was still swinging the ball and getting those variations. He is still so competitive. So I think it’s a good pick. He is a guy who has only finished playing about 18 months ago in IPL. Hopefully he can make a big impact.”
While praising his bowlers in his team — Morne Morkel, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sunil Narine and Mohammad Nabi — Fleming said all the eight teams have the resources to have a successful tournament.
“The thing that makes me little bit anxious is that on any given day there are world-class players who can change a game,” he said.
“It’s okay if you get beaten because the other team can also play well. It’s about maintaining the composer and sticking to the roles that we have discussed.
“The tournament has great players like Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum. But we are very confident in the players that we have. There is no weak team. That’s for sure.”
Meanwhile, team mentor Anis Sajan said signing Indian players was a major breakthrough for the new league. “The addition of Indian players has lifted the league to another level,” he said.
“We are happy that the Indians have also come on board. We will see in the coming years how many more Indian players can join and how international players from other nations can join because players are the heroes of the league.”
Mujeeb, the rising Afghan spinner, is also excited about playing in the second season of the T10 League. “I really enjoyed playing in the first season of the tournament,” he said. “Now I am looking forward to the new season. I remember my first wicket last year. It was Eoin Morgan,” the 17-year-old off-spinner smiled.