Sean Bradley Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 Zaheer Khan will go down in Indian cricket history as their second-best fast bowler after Kapil Dev but he is in a very vulnerable phase right now after being dropped after a poor 2012. The world thought that would be the end of the 34-year old, constantly battling a fragile body but Zaheer tells Mirror that he wonÃÕ fade away without a fight. The ÅÉigh that bowling gives, he says, is the reason he wants to make a comeback. The big fan talk is whether Zaheer Khan is finished? The way you are training at NCA indicates you are still fighting for that comeback? Yes. I want to continue for another 3-4 years. Next year, there are three big overseas tours coming up. You think your body can handle that load? By no means am I done! I still have that hunger. I just need to sort things out and make the right calls. I know that I definitely have three-four years and I will make sure I come back and come back strong. I want to prepare fully, in terms of bowling, fielding and fitness. I want to cover all angles now and use this time really wisely in preparing. I know that I wonÃÕ be fit for Irani Trophy. So an exact plan for the return date is yet to be chalked out. Have you started bowling again after that calf-strain you suffered in the Ranji season? I havenÃÕ started bowling yet. I have to sit with Ashish Kaushik (physio) and chalk out the exact plan on that front. The positive is that I have started running. So things should speed up from here. Will you consider quitting one format of the game, say ODIs? Test matches have been my priority but I want to be there in ODIs as well. I definitely have to work more on my fitness which IÃÎ ready to do. There is no substitute for hard work. Whatever is required to do I am ready to do. Is it because of the 2015 World Cup? You are almost greedy to play it? Not really. The thing is I know that with my body, more I play, the better I get. So I have to get to that level where I am hitting that bowling fitness up and once I am on a roll, I am going to be fine. Are you looking at the Australia series realistically? I donÃÕ want to jump the gun. The long-term picture is on my mind. I definitely have a lot of cricket left in me. I need to figure out things. Were you shocked or surprised when you heard you were dropped? How did you take it? Obviously, I wasnÃÕ expecting it. You have to take things in your stride. At the highest level you are just as good as your last game. If you look at it that way then, whether I am rested or dropped, you got to take it as a professional and move forward. ThatÃÔ what I have been doing. I went and played Ranji Trophy, which is the next best thing. My approach towards my career has been like that. I have faced setbacks but I have responded well. IÃÎ going to do everything possible to get back. Are you feeling the pressure that the competition, from the new youngsters, is building up? Well, the competition is always there. ItÃÔ good to see the talent coming up. It was heartening to see the way they played in the England series and we won that series. There have been lots of good bowling performances. You just have to do things that are in your control. When you came back after being dropped in 2007, you were young. But now you are one of all-time bowling greats for India. So when you are dropped now, does ego come into play? Did you ever think that you should just give it up? Not really. The main reason is that I know I have plenty of cricket left in me. If you look at greats like Kapil paaji, Glen McGrath, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, they played till 39-40 years. ItÃÔ about making sure you are there at par with the competition. The bottom line is performance. Looking back then, would you agree that you didnÃÕ perform well in the last year? Well, the year was tough on the Indian team per se, be it the bowling department or the batting. They go hand in hand. As a team we had a tough year. In England, you pulled out on the first day. Is it getting really tough to come back and are all these injuries puttting you off? Personally, I set high standards and yes, I have to live up to those standards. IÃÎ going to give it my best shot. Is there a goal you have set? Not in terms of number of matches but in terms of fitness. I want to be at my best. So once you start bowling and asses your fitness, will you take a call on playing one format? Those things are not on my mind right now. ItÃÔ all about fitness. When you were dropped did they explain their decision? The communication lines are always there. What do you want to come back for? WhatÃÔ the motivation? Bowling gives me that high. Contributing to the teamÃÔ success gives the kind of high that as a cricketer and athlete you always strive for. And I still want to go out there and do things for the country. I still have plenty of things to offer. ThatÃÔ my faith. I have had that kind of faith in my ability and thatÃÔ what drives me to try and make this comeback. http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/59/201301312013013108583965719ba22ab/I%E2%80%99m-not-done-yet.html
Marut Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 He is not "done yet" but he is "done for" You stop playing that 2 month long overload monster called Indian Paisa League. Then you will get enough rest and energy to excel again.
Cevno Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 He is injured too often and half fit as a result.
Lord Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 What do you want him to say ? I done ? that hes thinking of retirement atleast,but he says 3-4 years:facepalm: maybe he needs an interview with Arnab
bharat297 Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 I like the fact that he acknowledged he has a fitness problem. I don't think anyone has ever questioned Zaheer's ability. But over the past few years his fitness has let us down. Even in Australia, he bowled some really good spells that turned the game but couldn't back it up in his 2nd and 3rd spells. A fully-fit (keyword there) Zaheer for the next 2-3 years, guiding the next generation of Indian pacemen e.g. Yadav, Kumar, Shami, etc. to take over the role as the leader of the attack could give us some real potency heading into the future. The thing I like about Zaheer is that he's a thinking bowler and it would be good for our young quicks to adopt that mindset.
The Outsider Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 You're not only done, Zaheer. You are overcooked. It takes a fast bowler of McGrath and Ambrose ability to be a serious threat at international level after the age of 34 and while you were good, you were never in that rarefied spectrum and you loved your Biryani a bit too much. Alvida!
Clarke Posted February 1, 2013 Posted February 1, 2013 Age by itself isn't a dis-qualifier. Chris Martin seems to be all right at 38. Does Zaheer have the commitment required to be fit and prioritize international cricket ?
adi B Posted February 1, 2013 Posted February 1, 2013 Age by itself isn't a dis-qualifier. Chris Martin seems to be all right at 38. Does Zaheer have the commitment required to be fit and prioritize international cricket ? martin is slim and fit..zak is a fat disaster nowadays
SLICKR392 Posted February 1, 2013 Posted February 1, 2013 martin is slim and fit..zak is a fat disaster nowadays He can always be slim, fit and bald in the future.
adi B Posted February 1, 2013 Posted February 1, 2013 He can always be slim' date=' fit and bald in the future.[/quote'] not with his lifestyle and his biryaani :cantstop:
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