Chennai: New South Wales all-rounder Steve O`Keefe is disappointed with BCCI`s decision to terminate his IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala and said it would be a shame if he doesn`t get a chance to play for the team.
The BCCI terminated Kochi`s contract, citing "irremediable breach" of terms and conditions.
"I watched it on Hindi TV and couldn`t understand what was going on. I only knew what you guys know basically and I think there`s an appeal in the process and it would be a shame if I were to go home without playing (for them) considering that last year, I didn`t play a game," O`Keefe said.
"I was disappointed (for not playing a game) and if they scrap the team I`d be even more disappointed. Hopefully they can arrange that and get them back in the competition. I don`t know what jurisdiction they`re under but it`d be a real shame if we didn`t get to play together," he added.
Only a couple of years back, O`Keefe was looking for other career options but today he feels privileged to have played the game at the highest level.
"I feel very privileged. Only a couple of years ago I wasn`t in the mix and was considering a couple of other career options and every opportunity I am going to try and grab it with both hands," said O`Keefe , who has skippered NSW twice.”
"I know that our career is very fickle in this game and coming across here and being able to compete... definitely a big honour."
Asked what other career options did he consider, O`Keefe said, "An entrepreneur, a carpenter -- I am pretty good with my hands -- but I will not (choose another career) now."
The 26-year-old left-arm slow bowler finds it quite challenging to bowl in sub-continental wickets and said he has been practicing on the Chennai wickets to sharpen his skills.
"I feel it`s completely different to bowl in sub-continental wickets than what we were brought up on in Australia," he said.
"Spin`s tradition in Australia is to try and toss the ball up and a get enough shape on the ball and drift (it)... here`s its a lot more scrambled thing, you bowl a lot more into the wicket.”
"Traditionally, I try and drift the ball as much which I find here quite challenging. But you got to be able to bowl in all conditions that are presented to you so I am trying to develop that by bowling on these Chennai wickets," he said.
PTI
