South Africa will need Imran Tahir's skill set in the tournament: Graeme Smith

Former South African captain Graeme Smith suggested that Protean leg-spinner Imran Tahir’s skill set would be necessary for the team to go deep into the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. Smith added that Tahir has the ability to change the course of a match on his own.

Imran Tahir has had a successful IPL this season for the Rising Pune Supergiant after he was released by Delhi Daredevils. In 12 matches for his side in the IPL, the Lahore-born spinner has claimed as many as 18 wickets in the race for the Purple Cap.

Since making his ODI debut for South Africans in the ICC World Cup 2011 in Delhi against West Indies, Tahir has picked up 127 wickets at an economy of 4.6, with the best of 7/45. Tahir currently holds the number 2 spot in the ODI rankings, following Kagiso Rabada at the top.

Rabada and Tahir are huge for AB

“He is huge for AB and this team. He and Rabada are first and second in the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for ODI Bowlers respectively, and with the wickets perhaps being dryer than usual, I see Tahir’s influence being massive in terms of his ability to turn a game” wrote Graeme Smith in his column on a website for ICC.

“South Africa will need his skill in the tournament, and part of me feels that it’s not a bad option to have kept Tahir away from England a little bit in those last two ODIs.” added the most successful captain for South Africa. “He’s bowled a lot in the IPL, and if South Africa comes up against England at a key stage of the tournament, as captain I’d be quite happy that the England batsmen would have had less of a look at him.” continued the 36-year old.

South Africa play Sri Lanka at Kennington Oval today, followed by Sri Lanka on June 7 and India on June 11. South African have not won a major ICC tournament since the ICC Knockout of 2000.