In what might be a vital blow to India's chances, Zaheer Khan is doubtful for the third Test against England at Edgbaston.
Ravi Shastri's choice of bowling coach was always Bharat Arun and it is now apparent that Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) did not take the new head coach into confidence while recommending Zaheer Khan as the bowling coach.
Delhi Daredevils captain Zaheer Khan rued that his side failed to chase down a target of 158 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their Indian Premier League match and said they would have done it eight out of 10 times.
Ruled out of cricket for the next four months due to hamstring and ankle injuries, India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has something to cheer about as he has been nominated in as many as three categories for this year's LG ICC Awards to be held in London on September 12.
He, along with Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan and Mohammad Kaif, had walked the ramp for a designer duo at the Lakme India Fashion Week.
Zaheer Khan has leaked runs in the two matches India played in the tri-series in Mirpur so far but his junior India team-mate Virat Kohli feels the pace spearhead is experience enough to come up with a strong performance in the next couple of games.
India skipper Sourav Ganguly says the Baroda fast bowler is not bowling well and needs some time to get back his rhythm.
The former left-arm speedster also felt that the hundred struck by K L Rahul in the last and the fifth Test against England last week will bolster his confidence in the continental showpiece event being held in the UAE.
India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has credited his return to form after months in wilderness to a reduced run-up, which he says has helped him become fitter and consistent.
The Indian pace bowler could not confirm his availability because of international commitments with the national team.\n\n
He will face extra pressure on his return from injury when he leads a depleted bowling attack on the tour of Pakistan.
Mumbai got a major boost with star players Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan joining the squad for the Ranji Trophy semi-final match against West Zone rivals Saurashtra to be played in Chennai from January 4 to 7. Tendulkar and Zaheer have replaced Praful Waghela and Rahil Shaikh in the squad that beat Himachal Pradesh by nine wickets at Ahmedabad in the quarter-final tie which ended on Monday.
Unlike many past and present day cricketers, including his teammates, India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan prefers to steer clear of playing the prediction game ahead of the coming World Cup.
He is yet to recover from a groin injury and seemed uncertain to play the one-off one-dayer on Saturday.
The left-arm bowler strain a muscle in his right leg on day 4 and had to leave the field after bowling only one over in the morning session.
Bangladesh were 58 for 5 in the first innings in reply to India 610 for 3 at close on Day 2 in the second Test.
Let down by injuries on his previous two trips Down Under, Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan said this time he wants to be the factor that decides the Test series against Australia, starting Monday in Melbourne.
Averages in the three-Test series between England and India, won 1-0 by India on Monday.
The Indian pace ace is training at the MRF Pace Academy under the legendary Dennis Lillee.
In another blow to Mumbai Indians' campaign in IPL-7, pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament, according to skipper Rohit Sharma.
Amazed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's longevity, former India batter Robin Uthappa says the Chennai Super Kings talisman's "mind is staying up to date" and the only thing that could end his prolonged run in competitive cricket is his body.
'It is something special and I am enjoying it,' the left-arm pacer said after claiming 5 for 91, his sixth five-wicket haul, in the first Test against Australia in Bangalore on Friday.
India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has been included in the Mumbai squad for the Ranji Trophy game against Orissa starting November 29 which also be his fitness test ahead of India's tour Down Under.
With youngsters such as Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron making their presence felt, India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan cannot take his place for granted, feels former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram.Zaheer, recovering from an ankle surgery, had missed out on India's England tour and the current West Indies series but is expected to play in Australia next month.
Zaheer Khan was roundly booed by Indian supporters at the MCG for the flurry of no-balls but apparently there was a reason to it.
India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan would be out of action for six weeks due to an ankle injury that kept him out of the second Test against Australia which started in Sydney on Wednesday.
Sehwag, who accumulated 8,586 runs from 104 Tests at an average of 49.34 and also took 40 wickets during his Test career which spanned from 2001-2013, revealed the role of Zaheer Khan in his promotion as an opener.
India pacer Zaheer Khan is likely to miss the One-Day International series against South Africa after suffering an injury during the second and final Test in Kolkata.
India's depleted pace attack lost much of its sting on Wednesday with spearhead Zaheer Khan being ruled out for the rest of the Australia tour with a heel injury, prompting the Cricket Board to send Punjab pacer VRV Singh as his replacement.
'I'm very confident our young batting side will go a long way in this tournament. I'm very happy with the way we have prepared this season. We will come good, definitely. Scores will come, I've full faith in our batters'
Zaheer Khan failed to find a place in newly-crowned Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai's squad for the five-day Irani Cup match against the Rest of India, beginning at the Wankhede stadium on February 6, as he has not yet recovered from the calf injury sustained at the start of this month.
Pacer Ishant Sharma's return to form on the tour of the West Indies is good news for India, says former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, as he and Zaheer Khan "will form a formidable pair" in the upcoming Test series against England, starting later this month.
'It's just the second innings in his Test career. Very consistent, you have to say.' 'It's also important to note that he has started from scratch.'
Sachin Tendulkar benefited from an excellent series against South Africa and moved to No 21 in the LG ICC batting rankings.
The left-arm pacer suffered a hip strain while bowling in the 2nd ODI of the Afro-Asia Cup.
'We have taken all the recommendations of the CAC for Ravi Shastri as head coach and we will further discuss with him appointment of other coaches. We have set up a committee and they will speak to them (CAC), communicate with them after talking to Shastri. The support-staff has been decided in consultation with the head coach'
Zaheer Khan says he would stay positive and come back a stronger athlete.
Navdeep Saini, who made a comeback to the Indian Test squad, will miss three matches for his English county side Worcestershire.
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