Imran Tahir feels the T20 format is a big challenge for spinners.

IANS/New Delhi

South African leggie Imran Tahir, who will turn up in Delhi Daredevils colours this season in the Indian Premier League (IPL), believes spinners have a key role to play in the Twenty20 tournament which starts tomorrow.
“It’s hard obviously, especially T20 cricket. But we have a key role to play. There is still a lot we bring to the table. Having variety is very important. If you don’t have variations you are not going to survive, especially in India as the Indian players are so good against spin,” Tahir was quoted as saying by iplt20.com.
Tahir said he needs to adjust quickly to the conditions after the 50-over World Cup which just got over at the Antipodes. “I have to adjust to the conditions very quickly. It’s big difference from T20 to 50-over cricket. (But) if you back yourself, you can do well,” said Tahir.
The 36-year-old feels the T20 format is a big challenge for spinners but added that tweakers with courage and a strong will can be successful. “A lot of left-arm spinners from India have had a lot of success (in T20s). All type of spinners have a big role to play. T20 is a good challenge but you need to go there with a big heart and that’s the only thing I can say about it,” said the South African.
“It’s not like you are going to give flight to the ball and the batsman is going to defend. If you give flight then it is going to go for six here. Even in Test cricket, you can’t be a classical spinner like you were 20 years ago. So your pace needs to be very good for all the formats.”

Narine takes part in KKR net session
A day after being cleared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India of suspect bowling action, Kolkata Knight Rider’s spinner Sunil Narine bowled for close to 40 minutes in the net session held at the Eden Gardens yesterday.
The West Indies spinner bowled with his usual run-up to the KKR batsman who found it quite difficult to pick him in the nets too.
All the members of the squad were present at the practice along with skipper and left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir who batted for 45 minutes, belting away a few from right-arm pacer Morne Morkel. The latter used his height to good effect digging in a few short ones every now and then.
Bowling coach Wasim Akram was in the thick of things giving a few tips to the youngsters and the bowlers at the net.
Akram then went on to inspect the Eden strip and was joined by South African great Jacques Kallis. Gambhir too joined in the act and seemed satisfied with the wicket after spending a few minutes near it. The Mumbai Indians practice session was, however, hampered by rain which made the team go indoors for their training.

Shukla returns as IPL chairman
Member of Parliament Rajeev Shukla was appointed the new chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council, a Board of Control for Cricket in India release said.
Shukla resigned from the post of IPL chairman in June, 2013, following a scandal over corruption and spot-fixing in the tournament. Shukla, a former senior vice-president of the BCCI, had lost in the recent Board election.  
He replaces Ranjib Biswal who was the interim chairman of the council. Biswal conducted the 2014 IPL in collaboration with former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who was appointed as the BCCI interim president by the Supreme Court of India. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly and current team director Ravi Shastri were also named in the governing council.