Redbacks chase Tanvir's Twenty20 expertise

South Australia are looking to employ another Pakistani by having Sohail Tanvir involved in their Twenty20 campaign, but the move depends on his international commitments. Tanvir starred for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League earlier this year and if the short-term deal goes through he will step in for Younis Khan, who is helping out the struggling Redbacks in 2007-08.

Tanvir, 24, was the most successful bowler in the IPL with 22 wickets and hit the winning runs while batting with Shane Warne in the final. South Australian officials are excited by the prospect of Shaun Tait working in tandem with Tanvir and said the deal was "cheap".

"That was one of the real beauties of the deal ... this guy is really coming for the opportunity," Jamie Cox, South Australia's high performance manager, told Sportal. "It's a very, very cheap deal for us. He was a bargain basement price for the IPL and took more wickets than anyone else ... we believe he's quality in this form of the game."

Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition starts on Boxing Day and Tanvir will be available only if he is not picked in Pakistan's squad for India's tour - or the series is cancelled due to security concerns. Tanvir has appeared in two Tests, 27 ODIS and 10 Twenty20 internationals. South Australia are currently bottom of the one-day competition and second last in the Sheffield Shield.