South African wicketkeeper batter Donovan Ferreira is happy to be at the Hundred, where he will play for Birmingham Phoenix. This will be his first time representing the side, though he has played two seasons of the competition previously.
Usman Tariq a ‘secret weapon’
One of the things about the competition that makes him happy this year is that Pakistan mystery spinner Usman Tariq will be his teammate. Tariq, who is one of the handful of Pakistan players in the Hundred this year, is arguably the most interesting prospect.
His quirky action, for one, will help him make more headlines than he probably would fancy. Ferreira, however, thinks his presence will be a secret weapon for Birmingham.
“When we toured Pakistan, we analysed him when he made his debut, and we weren’t quite sure what to expect from him. I’m grateful that he’s part of our squad because it means I don’t have to face him in The Hundred.”
Blast stint helps Tariq settle in England
Usman Tariq has had plenty of time to acclimatise to the English conditions, having played 11 games for Warwickshire in the Vitality Blast. He was pretty decent for the franchise, grabbing 16 wickets at an average of just 16. He grabbed a couple of wickets in his first Hundred game against Trent Rockets, removing dangerous batters Finn Allen and Tim David.
“Playing in the Blast has helped him understand the English conditions. He’s bowled a lot at this venue and has enjoyed success here. I’m excited to see what he brings to the team, and I have no doubt he’ll be successful.”
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