Tahir expects tough challenge in must-win TKR game

Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) Captain Imran Tahir said his five-wicket haul against the St Lucia Kings was a moment he had been waiting for, while crediting his young son and the support of the team for motivating him to continue performing at the highest level.

Tahir produced a sensational spell of 5/17 to help dismantle the Kings for 119 at Providence Stadium on Wednesday night, before the Warriors completed a four-wicket victory in their Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League encounter.
The veteran leg-spinner, who has built a reputation as an attacking bowler, said he was pleased to see his hard work rewarded with a match-winning performance.
“I’ve been waiting for that for a long time, to be honest with you,” Tahir said. “For me, I think my role is obviously to be contained in the middle. I am an attacking bowler. The wickets come; I don’t mind.”
Tahir also revealed that his son has been a major source of motivation, constantly encouraging him to continue playing.
“He keeps telling me, ‘Daddy, one more year, one more year, and you need to play with me,’” he said.
The Warriors Captain also welcomed the immediate impact of Bangladesh spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who claimed 3/13 on his CPL debut.
With Mohammad Nabi having departed for international duty, Miraz stepped into the attack and combined effectively with Tahir to dismantle the Kings’ batting.
“It’s really nice to have him. He’s a world-class bowler,” Tahir said, adding that he was excited to bowl alongside Miraz and the rest of the Warriors’ attack.
Attention now turns to tonight’s crucial encounter against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, with Tahir expecting another stern challenge.
“We know it’s a very, very good team, but it’s a good challenge again,” he said. “We’re looking at one game at a time. We need to come up with our plans, and they need to come up with their plans.”