COVER STORY
SPIN IT TO WIN IT IOL Proteas World No 1 bowler Tabraiz Shamsi chats exclusively to IOL Sport ahead of the T20 World Cup in the UAE. Photos: African News Agency (ANA) By: ZAAHIER ADAMS 1. DO you ever wake up in the morning and just pinch yourself that you are the No 1 T20 bowler in the world? Tabraiz Shamsi: The guys around me make my job easier to be honest. I know I have a certain role to play. I have a job to do in the team. But the other guys are brilliant as well. You don’t just rock up and do well. You need the help of other guys around you. 2. How exciting is it to be part of a generation of spinners that is actually appreciated in South Africa? Tabraiz Shamsi: It’s amazing! The coaches are picking the team according to what they see in front of them and not just what we’ve seen in the past, not what the mould of a South African team should be. 3. You have always spoken very highly of Imran Tahir. How do you feel about him being left out of the Proteas T20 World Cup squad? Tabraiz Shamsi: I actually don't know what to say about that because I’m not somebody who gets involved in those kinds of chats and I’m not really sure what happened. 4. But you would have liked to bowl in tandem with him one last time though? Tabraiz Shamsi: Well, there are
SPORT MAG VOL.2 | P16 | OCTOBER ‘21
TABRAIZ SHAMSI always opportunities around the world. (Laughs) 5. That’s the best googly you have bowled all summer … Tabraiz Shamsi: (Laughs) We never know where the road might take us. 6. Having been in the UAE for the IPL, what can we expect from the surfaces? Tabraiz Shamsi: I don’t know if they’ve been keeping certain pitches fresh for the World Cup, but they are on the slower side. It will be a challenge for the batters. 7. If you had to choose, which Marvel superhero would you be? Tabraiz Shamsi: I’m going to sound a bit dumb … I don't even know if Superman is a Marvel character, but I have been fascinated with Superman for a long time. Being able to fly and then travel quickly is something that I would enjoy. 8. What’s it like to bowl against the supermen of the West Indies
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such as Andre “Dre Russ” Russell and Chris “Universe Boss” Gayle? Tabraiz Shamsi: Look, it’s very challenging, the power that they possess. But for me, it sort of pumps me up. I’ve been somebody that’s always wanted to take the big wickets. I think it brings the best out of me. 9. The Proteas’ first game at the T20 World Cup is against Australia. Is everything geared towards that opening game at the moment? Tabraiz Shamsi: When we play against Australia nobody needs to be told anything. Everyone sort of knows what they have to do. Everybody will be up for that game. 10. Finally, what is your message to the people back home? What can they expect from this Proteas team at the T20 World Cup? Tabraiz Shamsi: I’d just like to tell them and remind them that this is a team that has been locked up in a hotel room for six or seven days, just so we can go out there and try our best and bring some happiness to the people back home. We’ve been doing a lot of sweating for this team, for the people back home, and we’re going to definitely try and make everyone proud.
