Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher. Photo: Collected

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 22, 2025 (BSS) - Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher has taken this BPL as a platform to prepare him for his side’s upcoming challenges against the different International teams in next summer.

Campher, who is recruited by Rangpur Riders to play in this BPL, is yet to get a game but he was not fazed by it, saying that the world class environment in the franchise’s dug out helps him to prepare quietly.

“That happens (out of the playing XI) when you have had a really good team. When the players are playing well and the balance is right, it’s tough to be fit in,” Campher said during an exclusive conversation with the BSS recently.

“Hopefully I’ll get a game. It’s lovely experience for me to play here. The environment is really good I am enjoying much to train hard and work on my game so I prepare myself for the international summer. We have Test matches against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and I am sure this will give me great preparation for sure,” he added.

In December this year, Ireland will visit Bangladesh for a full bilateral series which includes two Tests, three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals.

Campher who has already cemented his place as one of the top all-rounder in Ireland is believed to play a vital role in this tour.

He, however, laid emphasis on playing their best cricket to beat a team like Bangladesh.

“Bangladesh is a very good side now, and they have very good results to show,” he said.

 ‘I think it will be really very good contest. Bangladesh is playing top cricket now, (we’re) coming here hopefully at the end of the year so it will be nice test against you guys again, They have really good quicks and good spinners, who are effective in this condition and really good batters, who can be dangerous. It will be tough contest.

 I think we have to play our best cricket otherwise it won’t be a contest so yes we have to be very best to give you guys a run for money.”

He praised the standard of BPL, saying that the wicket this time made the tournament an entertaining one.
 
“Dhaka wicket sets the tone for the whole tournament, it’s dry and its good it has bounce and there’s a lot of runs and the same is for Sylhet and Chittagong,” he said.

“I think it’s a showcase tournament. Now I have big opportunity coming up, hopefully I will be available for whole tournament, lots of good guys have come in from overseas and it will get better and better.

 Some guys are bowling 90 miles now and most teams have quality spinners. On a personal note, it’s lovely to be in this (Rangpur) great franchise, they look after you and everything’s going smoothly so far and I am very happy with the facility I got here,” he said.

Campher was born in Johannesburg in 1999 and represented the South African team in the Under-19 squad but he hardly knew he was destined to live his dream elsewhere.

“Basically, I was playing in a game against Ireland that got arranged.. I was speaking to Neil O Brien behind the stumps and I was just batting along and he just kind of asked me nicely to come over and play club cricket and as I am having an Irish passport he would look to get me over,” Campher said.

After making room in the Irish team, he was introduced against England and he became the first man in history to score back-to-back half-centuries and take wickets in each of his first two ODIs - making 127 runs in the three matches and took five wickets with the ball at an average of 28.80.

He further hogged the spotlight by claiming the first hat-trick in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup against Netherlands in Abu Dhabi, UAE with claiming four wickets in four balls during his side’s seven-wicket win.

Thus, he became only the second cricketer after Australia pace legend Brett Lee to achieve the feat in the global event.

 Lee earlier achieved the milestone against Bangladesh during the inaugural edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa.

“All of my family was very supportive, and the extended community in Ireland was very happy to welcome me with broad arms.

My transition from South Africa to Ireland has been really good so far, and I’ve made a lot of new friends and reconnected with some friends of the past as well,” he said.