Tahir touts PSL as one of the world's top leagues

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South Africa’s leg-spinner Imran Tahir, in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, revealed that he was available for the entire season of the fifth edition of the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL), which is scheduled to be played in its entirety in Pakistan.

The prolific leg-spinner, known for his scintillating celebrations, was hopeful of a great performance if he was selected for the league.

“I am available for the entire season of PSL. Previously due to international commitments I couldn’t take part in it. I am fully available this time around and hopefully if i get picked I will try to perform as best as I can,” said Tahir.

Tahir believed that the PSL was a tough league to bowl in because of the amount of talent present in the domestic circuit of Pakistan.

“I think PSL is a very good league. It is very tough to bowl there because the domestic players are very good. The standard of cricket in the league is very high. The support for the PSL by the people of Pakistan is remarkable. I really enjoyed playing in the league. I think it is one of the top leagues in the world and it is not easy to perform in it,” he said.

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The 40-year-old revealed that he was available for the upcoming 2020 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia if selected for his national team of South Africa.

“I am available for T20’s. I am playing various leagues as well. I would be available for the T20 World Cup in Australia if selected to play for South Africa,” he said.

The leg-spinner claimed that it was destined for him to play for South Africa and stated that he was grateful to Pakistan for the skills that he learned which helped him become an international cricketer.

“All the cricket skills I learned were in Pakistan for which I am grateful. When I was playing there the standard was really high. Whatever I am today is because of that. I think it was destined for me to play for South Africa. To find a spot in between the big names in Pakistan cricket was really hard at the time. But I was still hopeful to get an opportunity at the time because I did really well in the 2004 or 2005 seasons. However once I went away it was difficult for me to come back and play [for Pakistan],” he said.

Tahir paid homage to Pakistan’s legendary former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, who passed away recently, and revealed that the great bowler was like a father figure for the prolific leg-spinner. 

“He [Abdul Qadir] was like a father to me. I was really close with him so it was a big shock for me. I am really grateful to him for the things that he taught me. It was a shock for the whole world because there can never be another bowler like him,” he concluded.