'He gave me a massive hug': Tabraiz Shamsi reveals heartwarming moment with iconic pacer Dale Steyn
NEW DELHI: South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi shared a touching encounter with the legendary Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn following their team's triumphant entry into the T20 World Cup final.
In a commanding performance, South Africa shattered their ICC tournament semi-final curse by securing a resounding 9-wicket victory against Afghanistan in Trinidad.
Steyn, who was present in the commentary box during the momentous occasion, was visibly moved by their significant achievement.
"It's emotional down here. We're into a final," Steyn wrote on X.
After the match, Shamsi had a chance encounter with Steyn. The legendary fast bowler embraced him warmly and offered words of support. Steyn's encouragement left a lasting impact on the young spinner.
"I actually did speak to him after the game. He gave me a massive hug and said the exact same thing: that, like I said to you, this is not just for us. It's for the people back home and the players that have played before us. They have laid the foundation for the team to progress, and it's just our duty to take it one step forward," Shamsi said, as quoted from ESPNcricninfo.
The South African bowling unit displayed a remarkable team effort, successfully limiting Afghanistan to a mere 56 runs in just 11.5 overs.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first, but they were no match for South Africa's formidable bowling attack. The pace trio of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje decimated the top order, setting the stage for Shamsi to showcase his spin prowess. The left-arm spinner claimed three wickets, effectively cleaning up the tail.
Although Quinton de Kock fell early in the chase, Reeza Hendricks and captain Aiden Markram made light work of the target, securing victory with ease.
Prior to this semi-final encounter, South Africa had reached the semi-final stage on a few occasions. When asked if this time felt different from the previous instances, Shamsi highlighted the lack of a single standout performer, emphasizing the collective nature of their success.
"Everybody's really relaxed, and in this team, no one is given the responsibility to win the game for the team. If you see maybe other teams or the Proteas teams of the past, there was a specific batter that was relied upon. There was a specific bowler that was relied upon. I personally cannot pinpoint which bowler is responsible for making us win or which batter is responsible for making us win," he added.
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