Tracking story of a
passionate player who traveled continents to play international cricket
This is not the Story of Imran we all know,
the great pathan who led his country to live its greatest sporting moment ever
but this is story of another Imran who traveled continents to fulfill the dream
his eyes once saw, to play the highest level of cricket with the best cricketers on this planet. This is
story of a man who moved from country of his birth Pakistan to England and then
finally to South Africa for the woman he loved . Throughout this journey
of love for his future wife and the game
he loved immensely , he went on to play for more than two dozen teams spreading
over three continents until he settled in South Africa with his wife Saumya and ultimately qualifying to play for Proteas in 2011.
It all started
in 1996 when Tahir began his
chase to play international cricket. He made his debut for Lahore. In just over two years , he represented Pakistan in under 19 World
cup in 1998 , in South Africa
. It was here where he met love of life , Saumya Dildar a South African of Indian
descent, The romance begun but Tahir was focused on his dream to play for Pakistan . In 2000 , he was very
close to get a national call but missed it
narrowly when the selectors preferred
Danish Kaneria over him. He wasn’t the one to be disheartened easily and continued
to persevere. He played for Lahore ,Water and Power development Authority and
also for Sui Northern Gas . To gain valuable experience of English conditions
he also went on to play County
cricket with Yorkshire . However,
much to Tahir’s frustration, nothing was working
out even after a decade of hard work. He was dismissed as a one-dimensionalbowler
who only had googly as a variation. Despite the bleak nature of affairs, Tahir strived
as he did not believe in quitting.Inaninterviewheoncesaid“WhateverchallengesIhad,Ichallengedthemback
In 2006 after decade of neglection and hard
work ,Tahir's dream of playing for his country seemed almost over .He was 29
and tired of being ignored . He moved to South Africa for his love, this time for
his wife and here Tahir started playing for Titans in 2007 season , this was
the time for making a new identity in a new nation . With the Titans Tahir had
a small contract but like always he
gave it all . 2008-2009 was his breakthrough
season , he performed very well for Titans and was the
third highest wicket taker in domestic competition. In 2008 and 2009 , Tahir
played for Hampshire and impressed everyone with his performance .
From 2007 to 2009 , Tahir mesmerized everyone in the rainbow nation , he
had performed for both Titans and Hampshire and South African
selectors were quick to notice it
as a result he was selected to play against the visiting English team in
2009-10 season , However, much to the dismay and embarrassment to Cricket South
Africa it was realized he hadn't qualified to play for South Africa. Tahir was
disappointed but he knew he was very
close to play International cricket. In 2010
he played for Warwickshire
and took 56
wickets impressing coach
Ashley Giles. Later that year he
performed very well for his new domestic team Dolphins . All this time he was
on the radar of selectors. No sooner
he became eligible for playing for South Africa he was immediately selected for
World Cup 2011 Squad .
24-02-2011 , Ferozshah
Kotla, World Cup Match against West Indies , the day when Tahir's 15 year dream was fulfilled after having played for more than dozen teams and traveling across three
continents , He had become an International Cricketer . On his debut Tahir took 4 wickets in the match and left sudden
impact on the Game . There was an energy in his cricket which impressed
everyone . He finished as second highest wicket taker in the Tournament .
Later that Year he played his first Test
against Australians . In his First year he impressed everyone especially in
the Oneday internationals , South
Africa seemed to
have found the
missing weapon in there lethal attack that comprised of Steyn , Philander and Morkel . However it
was surprise to see the inconsistency in his performance in test cricket and
Oneday internationals.
Despite the fact he was
averaging over 40 after first 10 test South Africa still persisted with him
because Tahir always loved the
challenges, that’s his character and this why though he suffered severe hammering
from hands of Australians in Adelaide in 2012 when he conceded 260 runs in 37 overs ,he came back strongly in 2013
against Pakistan in Dubai when he spun
his team to victory against the nation of his birth taking his first five for . Lack
in consistency is what separates
great bowlers from good ones , Tahir suffered from inconsistency syndrome in
Test Cricket , Next year in 2014 , he again lost his place after
disappointed performances against Srilanka and West Indies , however his
form and control in Oneday have
been impeccable. The performance in World Cup in Australia and Newzealand
in 2015 ,
where he took 15 wickets
established him the
premier South African bowler in limited overs cricket . In
2016 t-20 World cup Tahir lead the South African attack and almost single
handedly took South Africa to Semifinals . It
took Tahir to no. 2 in t-20 rankings in International cricket.
In these five years Tahir
have made his own place in international cricket , surprise though is the difference in his test record
and oneday Internationals. While in Test Cricket
he has taken 57 wickets in 20 test with an average of 40 and failed to live up-to the expectations
which was once shown in him, in limited
overs he has taken 127 wickets in just 74 matches
which is highest for a South
African spinner , with average on par with likes of Pollock , Steyn , Donald and Devilliars while in
T-20 Cricket he is leading South African spinner with 54 wickets in 31 Matches with remarkable average of 13 .
The boy from Pakistan who
use to pack bags in pace mall at Lahore and who once saw the dream to play
international cricket ,traveled
from one continent
to another and
settled in South Africa for the
love of his wife , played for two dozens of teams before achieving the pinnacle in his cricket
career at the age of 32 .This is the Story of IMRAN
A Voyager who always wore his heart on sleeve be it for
the country which identified his talent or for his beloved wife who stood by
through thick and thin.
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