NEWS
Follow UsTabraiz Shamsi is a big fan of playing cricket everywhere and the learning that comes with it. Having been a regular in tournaments like the Caribbean Premier League, Lanka Premier League, and Indian Premier League, he knows a thing or two about grasping key things from such assignments.
He understands that these leagues shape players better. Giving the example of Indian players becoming ready-made stars at the international level thanks to the IPL exposure, Shamsi urges young South Africans to embrace the T20 leagues outside whenever opportunities come calling.
"When the leagues first started, they were seen in a bad light in the sense that it was all about players wanting to earn money. But when you play in different leagues, you pick up little bits of golden nuggets," Shamsi said, ahead of the third T20I between India and South Africa in Johannesburg.
"We are so used to doing things a certain way in South Africa, as are other countries, so you pick up bits and pieces of what other people do slightly differently and you try that for yourself. Some of it works, some of it doesn't and you improve as a player. Guys go and get more experience, and it gives other players and it widens the pool."
"Over the years, we've seen what the IPL has done for Indian players and Indian youngsters in particular. When they come to the international scene, they have already played in front of huge crowds, they have had their disappointments and bad games in front of huge crowds, so they have learned how to deal with that, and they've had success in front of good crowds so they know how to deal with that too. When they come to international cricket, it's just business as usual."
Cricket South Africa onboarded IPL franchises to recreate a similar structure in South Africa. After a year of hosting it, they are making it a bigger extravaganza this time around. Shamsi stated that SA20 has been very good for the talents in South Africa and he believes the tournament will have a similar impact like IPL has in India.
"The SA20 is brilliant for our country - in giving exposure to players. We've just had one season so we may not see it now or in the near future but in the years to come we will see how much more prepared our new generation and guys that are in the system will be when they do play for the Proteas," he said. "It won't be a thing that they are playing international cricket. They will just let their natural talent shine.
"The SA20 is huge in terms of preparation for the (T20) World Cup. It will be in different conditions but it's T20 cricket and it's good to play as much cricket as you can play," Shamsi said. "And not only to have good games. I am a big believer that when you have bad games you learn a lot and you improve your game a lot. You've just got to be playing. It gives you another ten fixtures to play high-quality cricket."
