Zaheer Khan will miss the opening Test of the home series against South Africa. The pace ace, who is undergoing treatment on his injured left heel, has ruled himself out of the first Test beginning in Chennai on March 26. Speaking to rediff.com Zaheer, who will represent the Rahul Dravid-led Bangalore Royal Challengers in the inaugural Indian Premier League next month said, "I'll certainly not be playing the first Test against South Africa."
Just who are the reining stars of Bollywood? One look at Maddock Films' 20th anniversary party gives you a pretty good idea.
Sachin Tendulkar benefited from an excellent series against South Africa and moved to No 21 in the LG ICC batting rankings.
He is yet to recover from a groin injury and seemed uncertain to play the one-off one-dayer on Saturday.
19-year-old Irfan Pathan Jr will replace an injured Zaheer Khan.
Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar was included in the 15-member Indian squad, but the struggling Virender Sehwag was given a rest for the Asia Cup tournament to be played in Bangladesh next month.
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin might have dismissed Kumar Sangakkara in his last four innings, but the legendary cricketer rated veteran India pacer Zaheer Khan as one of the most dangerous bowlers he has faced during his 15-year long illustrious career.
Zaheer Khan says he would stay positive and come back a stronger athlete.
During the first Test against England in Hyderabad, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja surpassed the iconic pair of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh as the most successful Test bowling duo for India.
The exclusion of Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan was expected. The decision, which took a long time coming, in all likelihood, brings the curtains down on the One-day careers of the trio, says Bikash Mohapatra.
Pooja on holiday...Kareena's favourite Yoga pose...Samantha puts on her thinking cap...
India's veteran pacer Zaheer Khan underwent a fitness test at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai before the selection committee's meeting to pick the first Test against England, starting next week.
It turned out to be a starry affair as some of India's top current and former cricketers attended former union civil aviation minister Praful Patel's daughter Poorna's sangeet ceremony in Mumbai on Thursday.
'Nonchalance is a way of life for him'
Iconic Sachin Tendulkar and limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni have led the bandwagon of former and current cricketers praising Zaheer Khan, who ended his international career on Thursday.
The vice-captain of the Australian team Michael Clarke feels that combating India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will be a tough ask but they are up for it.
India suffered a severe jolt ahead their three-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting on July 18 with strike bowler Zaheer Khan being ruled out due to a shoulder injury.
'I have a deep affection for Indian cricket. If someone asked me to come back, I wouldn't say no.'
"We have three days, but I am not 100 per cent sure whether he will play or not," skipper M S Dhoni said, adding, "It is a long series and we don't want to risk any individual."
Trent Boult and his wife Gert Smith effortlessly stole the spotlight.
With Zaheer Khan out of the series, former India stumper Kiran More tells Bikash Mohapatra, the Indian team has a tall task ahead.
Runs may have dried up for Rahul Dravid but there is no dearth of support from his teammates including Zaheer Khan, who believes the right-hander is due for a big knock against Australia.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan needs to bowl a lot in order to be fully fit for the first Test against Australia, starting on the Boxing Day.
The left armer underwent the fitness test under the supervision of team physio Andrew Leipus and trainer Gregory Allan King.
Impressed by Zaheer Khan's splendid performance, former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram on Friday rated him as the best left-arm pacer in the game in the present times.
Indian bowler Ishant Sharma revealed that the Indian batter Virat Kohli's dropped catch was the reason why India's former pacer Zaheer Khan could not play 100 Test matches for India.
Kapil Dev believes the injury-enforced absence of key players like Jasprit Bumrah can hamper any team and hopes India's pace spearhead will return to action soon.
Cricket remains integral but "not everything" for MS Dhoni, says his former India teammate Zaheer Khan of the man with a penchant for catching the world off-guard and an eagerness to explore various avenues.
Eight years ago he faltered at the biggest stage in cricket, the World Cup summit clash against Australia in Johannesburg, but on Saturday Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan truly exorcised that disastrous spell of bowling with a splendid opening burst against Sri Lanka.
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.
Royal Challengers Bangalore's Zaheer Khan is eager to "reclaim" his place in the Indian team and said he will look to use the period after IPL to attain peak fitness.
With a pace attack led by two injury-prone bowlers, things are not looking too good for India ahead of the gruelling Test series against Australia, feels fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India recommended pace spearhead Zaheer Khan for the prestigious Arjuna award following his excellent showing in India's World Cup-winning campaign.
Jonty Rhodes believes the Indian team will only become stronger under new head coach Gautam Gambhir, and said the former opener has the ability to make an instant impact in any side.
Australia's batting mainstay Michael Hussey believes Zaheer Khan's absence is a big blow for the Indian team in the seven-match ODI series, beginning in Vadodara, on Sunday.
The Africa Cricket Association (ACA) has started dialogue with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and other stakeholders to revive the once popular Afro-Asia Cup
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, India's second largest public sector oil company has signed up fast bowler Zaheer Khan to endorse its lube brands.\n\n
The England captain, however, said the jelly bean row had nothing to do with his team's defeat.
Seeking to clear air over the altercation Zaheer Khan had with Ricky Ponting, India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said the issue was a misunderstanding on part of Australia's captain. Harbhajan said Zaheer's remarks were not directed at Ponting; the pacer was just talking with teammate VVS Laxman.
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