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Related Links
Players/Officials:
Abdul Qadir
| Imran Tahir
Series/Tournaments:
South Africa tour of England
Teams:
Pakistan
| South Africa
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Umar Farooq in Cricinfo
Abdul Qadir, the former Pakistan legspinner, has said he rues the fact that the Lahore-born Imran Tahir
went on to play for South Africa and not Pakistan. Tahir had met Qadir
in Lahore on Tuesday, and will remain in Pakistan for the rest of the
week, for personalised training sessions in preparation for South
Africa's tour of England in July.
The pair had worked on increasing the variations in Tahir's bowling. "He
is here to enhance his variations, and sought my guidelines regarding
the finger googly and using flight as a weapon," Qadir told
ESPNcricinfo. "He is very keen to learn more and I love to help him,
because he applies what I teach him. I have only shared the googly
information with him and Shahid Afridi."
Qadir is confident of Tahir making an impression in England. "England
[have always] struggled against spin bowling a lot, but once it comes to
their home conditions, they are good. I have shared my past experiences
with Tahir, told him how to counter English batsman in their own
conditions … I am optimistic that he will make an impact with his
improved bowling."
Tahir, who has played seven Tests for South Africa, played cricket in
Pakistan from 1996 to 2006. "My relations with Imran aren't something
new," Qadir said. "I've know this boy since he was playing in the
Under-19 team here; he had tremendous talent and I was urging the
[Pakistan] board to try him. I still regret not having this boy in
Pakistan colours, but I am proud of him."
Tahir was once part of the Pakistan A team and was one of the popular
legspinners on the Pakistani domestic circuit in 90s. He was team-mates
with Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq in 1996, in the Under-19 squad that
played against England and Australia.
"He has played an ample amount of cricket in Pakistan, it's unfortunate
that we couldn't have him playing for Pakistan," Qadir said. "He was so
hardworking and a good learner, and always wanted to play cricket on the
big stage. He eventually got there, where he always wanted to get.
"This is not the first time he has come up to me for tips, he was
consistently in touch with me and always visits me when he is here in
Lahore."
Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo's Pakistan correspondent
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