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Zaheer says he's fully fit

Our Correspondent | June 12, 2004 20:35 IST

After an injury-plagued season that forced him to miss India's first Test victory on Australian soil in 23 years and the series triumph over Pakistan, India's former pace spearhead is sparing no effort to return to the team.

Speaking to newspersons after the conclusion of the fast bowlers' fitness camp at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore on Saturday, the left arm paceman declared: "My injuries are over now; I have fully recovered."

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The 24-year-old Baroda bowler, who has 82 wickets from 29 Tests, said he has not been able to find out the causes of his injuries but is working on staying injury-free.

"My current fitness is fine. I think I need to bowl more and more. I need some more bowling practice, which I have been doing in the nets now," he said.

He informed that he is working on his bowling rhythm.

He was quick to dismiss talk that he has cut down on pace to concentrate on line and length.

"I have not cut down on the pace. Any bowler wants to bowl line and length consistently but that does not mean I have cut down on the pace," he said.

On his short stint with Surrey, where he played a one-day and a four-day match, Zaheer said it was just a contract for three games as Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq had pulled out due to injuries.

He said he accepted the offer since he needed match practice.

"I thought it was not the proper time to play a four-day match and decided to pull out."

He, however, added that his visit to England was not aimed at playing matches but to get some training and when he got a call from Surrey, he accepted the offer thinking it would be prove beneficial to him.


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