Kaneria targets Twenty20 semi

Danish Kaneria believes the prospect of playing in the Champions League makes Essex Eagles’ Twenty20 Cup semi-final against holders Kent Spitfires more important than the final.

The two finalists on Saturday’s Twenty20 finals day at the Rose Bowl will progress to the tournament, either to be held in the Middle East or India, which is worth a staggering £2.5million to the winners.

This matches the sum Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals collected for winning the inaugural Indian Premier League earlier this year.

Along with the opportunity to secure Essex’s financial future, the Champions League would allow 27-year-old Kaneria to test himself against the best sides from the IPL plus Australia and South Africa’s domestic competitions.

Danish Kaneria is desperate to take part in the new Twenty20 Champions League this autumn

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Pakistan leg-spinner Kaneria told ecb.co.uk: “I am looking forward to that - the Champions League - if we go to the (Twenty20 Cup) final.”

“It will be a great achievement if we can do that. But first our priority, what I am thinking and what I will be saying to the boys, is let’s forget about this.

“Let’s play the match we have in front (of us), the semi-final. If we win that we will go through. If we do not win that we will not go through. First we need to concentrate on the semi-final game which is more important, I think, than the final.

“The semi-final is the final for us and I will give 110 per cent and see how that goes on and how we play.

“The batsmen are playing very well, the bowlers are playing very well and we just need a whole team effort to do well on that special day and - if the luck is on our side - we may go into the final.”

Kaneria has played a crucial role in Essex’s passage to finals day with 18 wickets in the group stage that helped the Eagles to second place in the South Division.

He produced career-best Twenty20 figures in the decisive final group game against Hampshire Hawks at Chelmsford, his 4-22 earning a 54-run win and a home quarter-final against Northamptonshire Steelbacks.

In that match team-mate Graham Napier, who hit the headlines earlier in the competition with 152 not out against Sussex Sharks, took 4-10 to give the hosts a 59-run win under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Kaneria is backing the powerful right-hander to deliver again on Saturday against a dangerous Kent side who beat Gloucestershire Gladiators in last year’s final at Edgbaston.

Graham Napier hits out on his way to 40 off 20 balls against Northants in the quarter-final

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He added: “Graham Napier has been batting excellently and he has been clearing the boundary line with anything.

“I hope he carries that on throughout the season - not only in the semi-final but the whole season, the way he’s batting and the way he’s bowling. He is bowling excellently and hitting the ball very well as well.

“I hope on that special day we get some very exciting batting and some good bowling from him. He’s been our key player in Twenty20 and doing very well and I am confident he will prosper in the semi-final and final and in the coming season as well.”

Kaneria is looking forward to his first finals day, having missed out on Essex’s only previous appearance - a semi-final defeat to eventual winners Leicestershire Foxes at Trent Bridge in 2006.

He experienced mixed fortunes at the start his Twenty20 career - with Karachi Zebras in Pakistan’s domestic competition - and is keen to excel on the highest profile day of the English domestic calendar.

“Twenty20 cricket is now becoming very important in the cricketing world,” he said.

“I made my mind up that I want to do well in the shorter version of the game. Last time I didn’t do so well in the Twenty20 stuff but this time I was ready for it, thanks to God almighty everything has gone all right for me and the team as well.

“It will be my first time and I am very much looking forward to it, playing against Kent.

"Kent is a very good team as well but if me and our whole XI play to our potential - play positive cricket - we can win this tournament.”