Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Tahir will be secret weapon at World Cup: Graeme Smith

By Pti

Johannesburg, Jan 25 (PTI) The latest addition to theSouth African squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup,Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir will be the country''s''secret weapon'' at the mega-event, starting from February 19in the sub-continent, said Proteas skipper Graeme Smith.

Smith explained that it was a conscious decision not toexpose Tahir, who only received South African citizenshipmidway through the just-concluded tour of India, in theone-day series matches against the visitors.

"(Tahir) is someone we want to keep fresh and not allowpeople the opportunity to see so much of. It was also atactical decision, with our batting being slightly light inthis series (against India)," Smith told a daily SportsDay.

Tahir, who came up with some superb performances in localgames, is also familiar with the sub-continental pitches.

"The conditions in India will be a lot more battingfriendly, and we will need to adapt our mindset from a battingand bowling perspective," Smith said.

"The great thing about our squad is that it''s hard topredict what the line-up is going to be. It''s the first timewe''re going to a World Cup with a lot of different options.

"We need to assess the conditions going into our firstgame and pick the team accordingly. I don''t think we are goingthere with a set XI in mind. We are going to pick the bestcombinations for each game; players we believe can win thatgame," added Smith.

Story first published: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 16:00 [IST]
Other articles published on Jan 25, 2011