Amazon Warriors should benefit from Tahir’s wizardry

South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir’s inclusion in the Guyana Amazon Warriors team could significantly buff the local franchise’s bowling unit, come this summer when the sixth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) bowls off in Guyana.

The “googly” specialist, who averages a stingy 15 in T20 cricket, will add the Guyana Warriors to his lengthy list of franchises for whom he has applied his mastery. The South African international has played for more than 20 franchises worldwide including South Africa, Delhi Daredevils, Derbyshire, Dolphins, Hampshire, Lahore Lions, Middlesex, Multan Sultans, Nottinghamshire, Pakistan A, Rising Pune Supergiants, South Africa A, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire to name a few.

While the Warriors beefed up their batting department with the likes of Luke Ronchi, Cameron Delport, Shoaib Malik and others, Tahir’s skill with the ball could see him form a deadly trio with Guyanese spinners Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, two of the Region’s best and one of the most successful tag teams of spinners.

Despite this season being his first in CPL, Tahir is expected to bamboozle the batsmen the same way he has been doing recently. His last international assignment was back in February when India toured South Africa, but his returns in the One-Day Internationals were poor as the Indian spinners were the real stars of the series.
He returned to form recently, however, when he ended with 13 wickets from 10 games, including a hat-trick in the 2018 Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 tournament playing for the Multan Sultans. A return to form in the PSL is a good sign for both Tahir and the Warriors, who will need as much magic from their bowlers as possible, with Tahir being the likely spearhead.
The understudy of Pakistani leg-spinning great Abdul Qadir, the 39-year-old is approaching 250 wickets in T20s and could possibly reach his milestone during the summer’s biggest party. Also, with Tahir the most experienced bowler in the side, it will be interesting to see if he is given the new ball or as he prefers in the “death” of the innings.

Also, with spinners reaping enormous success over the course of the tournament, the Amazon Warriors should fancy themselves, given the quality of the spinners in the side, the pair of Guyanese with their knowledge of the Caribbean pitches coupled with the Pakistan-born Tahir’s global experience.
Tahir’s inclusion should also significantly help Bishoo to become a better limited- overs bowler as both spinners ply the leg-break trade. In all, the securing of such a quality international leg-spinner is an overwhelming bonus for Guyana, who is chasing the elusive title for the sixth year. (Clifton Ross)