Cricket South Africa convener of selectors Linda Zondi is eager to retain the services of leg-spinner Imran Tahir beyond ODI retirement.

Tahir retired from the intermediate format of the international game after the Proteas’ exit from the World Cup in England last week. He will remain available to the T20I team, though.

‘At the moment we are blessed to have a guy like Tahir. I have been chatting to him with the view of coming back and assisting us‚ and passing on his vast knowledge,’ said Zondi.

‘He has done a very good job for us as a player and from our discussions I think he is keen to come on board.

‘He has made himself available for the T20 World Cup. As long as he is still performing in the manner that he is doing now‚ he will be considered. We have about 20 matches, and I stand to be corrected on that, before the T20 World Cup.

‘The plan is to have the team that will be going to the World Cup finalised by the time we play the 10th game.’

South Africa’s World Cup campaign was hampered by injury to fast bowlers Anrich Nortje, Dale Steyn and Lungi Ngidi. The Proteas also didn’t have batsman AB de Villiers, who offered to come out of international retirement for the tournament.

‘From the team’s space‚ I can say it with conviction that we had moved on since he retired and while this was playing out in the media it didn’t affect us,’ added Zondi.

‘AB has been a great servant for South Africa and you don’t replace a player like that overnight. When he retired‚ we respected his decision‚ especially after we came and chatted with him.’

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