Tanveer Sangha firms to make Australia’s 15-man World Cup squad

Tanveer Sangha has never played an ODI for Australia, but his debut performance in South Africa could open the door for a World Cup spot.

New spin star Tanveer Sangha says playing the ODI World Cup in India would be “unbelievable”, but he’s staying in the present after taking a massive step towards a place in the final 15-man squad with his stunning T20 debut against South Africa.

Previous touring experiences with the Australian team helped Sangha make a nerveless debut, just over 24 hours after arriving in Durban from London as a replacement for fellow spinner Adam Zampa, and his 4-31 helped seal a record win over the Proteas.

It was the sort of effort that thrust 21-year-old Sangha to the forefront of selectors’ minds as they look to the ODI World Cup in India, having included him with Zampa and Ashton Agar as the frontline spinners in the preliminary 18-man squad.

But Agar was forced to miss the lead-in matches in South Africa after suffering a minor calf injury and while he’s confident of being ready for the World Cup, Sangha’s efforts have given selectors food for thought.

Of Indian heritage, Sangha said the chance to play in the birthplace of his parents had crossed his mind but wasn’t something he would get lost in as he tried to continue to make an impact in South Africa.

“I’m usually not a person to think about the future,” he said of a potential World Cup call-up.

“I know there are a lot of people talking about it. That would be an unbelievable thing, especially having not played cricket for a long time, then coming back and playing a few games in The Hundred and now making my debut for Australia, it would be an unreal six months to be a part of.

“I do see it being tough to break into.

A four-wicket haul on debut after only just stepping off the plane! Not bad, Tanveer! #SAvAUSpic.twitter.com/q6oMHEoHyN

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 31, 2023

“Playing where my parents are from and where my heritage is from would be unbelievable and showcasing what I could do would be an amazing experience.

“I’d love to play one-day cricket for Australia.

“But I like to stay in the present and would worry about that later on. I’m just very happy with where I am right now.”

Before his debut, Australian coach Andrew McDonald said Sangha would be his first choice to come into the ODI squad should something happen to Zampa.

“He’s a young, exciting leg-spinner. If something were to happen to Adam Zampa, we’re hoping to get some game time into him (Sangha) in South Africa,” he told SEN.

The Australian squad has to be finalised by September 28.

Sangha’s debut was more impressive given the amount of cricket he missed, including all of last summer, after suffering a stress fracture in his back that left him “devastated”.

Tanveer Sangha has made a big impression. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

He returned to cricket in The Hundred in recent weeks, playing three games, and said the support of staff at Cricket NSW and his teammates during his recovery helped him focus on what was ahead.

“It was a frustrating time, I was feeling really good and then I got injured the week before the season started. I was very devastated for a couple of weeks,” he said.

“What helped me was having a great support and teammates and family and friends giving me good company and good support and looking at the bigger picture.”

Originally published as Tanveer Sangha firms to make Australia’s 15-man World Cup squad