Former players Irfan Pathan and Venkatesh Prasad have questioned the Indian team's muddled approach, lack of stability and the increasing reliance on all-rounders.
'The thought of joining politics did not depend on the IPL auction.... The Congress is a national party and you get a lot of freedom when you work for it. There is not much interference in decision-making and that was one of the reasons I considered joining the party.' Mohammad Kaif tells Rediff.com's Harish Kotian in an exclusive interview why he has retired from cricket and joined politics.
Kaif expects Rohit's retirement after 2027 ODI World Cup, picks his replacement
The middle-order batsman will play in the Central - North Zone Duleep Trophy match in Aurangabad frm November 4.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif found himself at the centre of a social media controversy after uploading pictures of him performing Surya Namaskar.
Kaif's tweet received nearly 5k likes and prompted responses lilke 'The beauty of India', 'This is the India of our dreams', 'We the people of India... Jai Hind.'
The former India captain said that Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif should be asked to play domestic cricket to regain their touch.
Intent does not always translate immediately into numbers, and effort however sincere needs to find expression in runs, especially with a World Cup drawing closer.
Retorting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's minority remark, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that Pakistan is the last country that should be lecturing any country on how to treat minorities."
'He adds stability in the middle order and there were spots where he could have slotted in.'
Mohammad Kaif will not feature in the second edition of the Indian Premier League after his team Rajasthan Royals dumped the Team India discard in Cape Town on Wednesday. Manoj Badale, chairman and co-owner of the Jaipur-based franchisee, said Kaif got the boot as the team management shortlisted 17-18 players for the Twenty20 league starting on Saturday. The only way Kaif can be back is if any other player sustains injury, he added.
Bumrah's pace has dropped noticeably in the ongoing fourth Test against England in Manchester - from his usual 140kph to the 130-135kph range. While he consistently touched 140-plus at Headingley and Lord's, Old Trafford has told a different story.
Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Lions on Friday appointed former Indian middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif as its assistant coach for the upcoming season starting April 5.
Selection committee chairman Kiran More said he would have a word with coach Greg Chappell on the issue.
'We had the privilege of meeting the great man and his family at the airport today. Dhoni was returning home after surgery.'
The Indian batsman will replace injured New Zealand batsman Nathan Astle.
An FIR was registered on Thursday against Uttar Pradesh Ranji Trophy team captain Mohammad Kaif after he allegedly roughed up a press photographer who tried to take his picture when he was coming out of a cinema hall in Chandigarh.
His fans burnt an effigy of Sourav Ganguly, who they blamed for the Allahabad player not playing in the Test series.
Ravindra Jadeja grabbed a one-handed stunner at deep square leg in the 72nd over to dismiss Neil Wagner. Mohammad Kaif heaped praise on the all-rounder.
Mohammad Kaif asserted that the Indian team has the capability to win the World Cup at home this year
Mohammad Kaif and Naman Ojha struck fighting fifties as Central Zone overcame a wobbly start to score 169 for 3 in the first innings after dismissing East Zone for 427 in their Duleep Trophy quarter-final at the Barabati stadium in Cuttack on Thursday. The visitors were struggling at 55 for 3 at one stage but India discard Kaif (78) and Ojha (50) put together an unbeaten 114-run stand to end the second day's play with a decent total.
The Indian batsman hit an unbeaten 76 as the county, following-on, made 238 for 5 at close on the penultimate day of their tie against Yorkshire.\n\n
India 'A' declared their second innings on 297 for five, setting the seniors a target of 387 runs to win.
Virender Sehwag did not play against Sussex as he was resting a back injury.
Kaif made 55 from 62 balls as Derbyshire beat Sussex by 6 wickets.
Mohammad Kaif marked his Derbyshire one-day debut with perfectly-paced 81 to end Surrey's unbeaten season.
Mohammad Kaif missed the one-day series in Australia earlier this year due to a thumb injury.
Uttar Pradesh Ranji cricket team captain Mohammad Kaif on Wednesday night allegedly roughed up a press photographer who tried to take a picture of him when he was coming out of a cinema hall in Chandigarh.
India won the toss and elected to field in the seventh and final ODI against England.
Mohammed Kaif replaces the injured Sourav Ganguly as captain of India seniors in the Challenger Trophy
The UP skipper scored 91 to help his team reach a respectable 249 for eight on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka.
Or would it be unfair to dump these proven performers on basis of just a few bad performances?
The UP batsman said he has not been told by the authorities concerned which aspects of the game he needs to address.
The Bengal batsman is expected to leave for Australia on Monday for the tri-series involving India, Australia and Zimbabwe.\n\n
India's Virender Sehwag was resting a back and did not play against Sussex.
Former India cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Kaif gave the fans some 'good news' when they appeared on the popular television show Big Boss hosted by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The Road Safety World Series will see some of the biggest legends of the game take on each other in a five-nation T20 tournament featuring India, West Indies, Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka
Mohammad Kaif was retained as the skipper of Uttar Pradesh Ranji team for 2007-08.
