— Cape Town The current craze in South African cricket may be the SA20, but Tabraiz Shamsi has his sights set on the T20 World Cup.
The Paarl Royals selected the No. 2 T20 bowler in the world, Shamsi, for R4.3 million at the inaugural SA20 auction held last week.
The left-arm wrist-spinner for the Proteas recognizes the “potential” presented by the new league, but he does not wish to lose focus on leading the national side to the championship in Australia next month.
“I believe it is an interesting development in South African cricket. The IPL has altered the landscape of Indian cricket, and it can do the same for South African cricket. It would provide players with possibilities to be noticed abroad and showcase their skills on a higher level “Shamsi told the media upon his arrival in India prior to the three T20 International matches.
“However, my current personal concentration is on the World Cup and this India tour. Last time we were here, the series was tied at 2-2. India is always a formidable opponent. It will be an excellent series. I enjoy visiting India and playing here, and I shall do my best.”
On the Proteas’ previous tour of India in July, Shamsi had arguably his least productive tour since replacing the legendary Imran Tahir as the team’s top white-ball spinner three years ago.
In four matches, he conceded 104 runs at an economy rate of 10.2, while picking up only one wicket. Shamsi was ultimately benched for the fifth and decisive match.
After a similarly sluggish start to the England tour in Bristol, Shamsi recovered in the following two matches to end as the Proteas’ highest wicket-taker in the series with eight scalps at an average of 12.
According to him, a few sixes here and there don’t make much of a difference in Twenty20 cricket, and so he is refining his preparations in India for his upcoming tour of Australia.
“I don’t believe much has changed. There were only a couple balls that were not correctly executed. I am not overly concerned. We are a bowling team; on sometimes, certain members will miss the target.
“I was pleased with my own performances. We are, at the end of the day, a bowling team “he stated.
“The pitches in India, and especially the dimensions of the grounds, are notably unique. In India, the grounds are typically on the smaller side, whereas in Australia they are much larger.
“Different applies to bowlers. They are in our World Cup group, and I have picked up and seen a few things that I could use against them.”
Wednesday at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, South Africa and India will play the inaugural Twenty20 International. Start time 3:30pm (SA time).