Lethal left-armers look to stage a comeback

Zaheer Khan: I don’t know what the problem is

MUMBAI: Since October last year, the Indian selectors have been left searching for an appropriate answer when it came to justifying their decision to drop Sourav Ganguly from the national team. While their logic in axing the former Indian captain on grounds of building a team for the future was probed repeatedly by the media, their reasoning for keeping left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan out wasn’t examined as thoroughly.

What didn’t help was the exceptional performance of his replacements even as Zaheer has been bowling as well as he ever did. The man in question here, though, seems hardly perturbed. Sweating it out at the MIG Club along with friend and fellow pacer Ashish Nehra, he admits: “It was shocking to be left out of the home series against England despite being the highest wicket-taker in Pakistan. I don’t know where the problem lies.”

Taking a safe guard from hereon, he adds: “However, I don’t want to comment on selection. One has to face disappointments. My way to tackle these setbacks is to keep performing, and be focused on the future. I just want to better my game each day, because I have always loved playing cricket.”

The discarded fast bowler has discovered an opportunity in this adversity. He has signed for English cricket county Worcestershire. “I was advised by a lot of former fast bowling greats around the world to go for a stint with an English county side. The exposure one gains while playing in the county circuit is of immense value. More importantly, it would help me remain match fit,” he says, revealing that his contract with the club includes a clause that allows him to play for his country even while the county season is on.

Clearly, another comeback for India in near future is what the Baroda paceman aspires to, even though he chooses to be philosophical about it. “If it (the return to the Indian team) has to happen, it will ultimately happen.”

Ashish Nehra: Why would people recognise me now?

MUMBAI: The emergence of a string of promising young pacers has meant that not many have bothered to find out what left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra has been up to ever since he was undone by a lower back injury in Zimbabwe in September. Last heard, the Delhi fast bowler had gone to Australia for three months to get this treated. It, therefore, came as a pleasant surprise to find the lanky quick bowling in the nets at the MIG Club. He isn’t going full throttle as yet.

“I am bowling at 60 to 70 per cent of my capability at the moment, that too just thrice a week. However, I should be back in full flow after five weeks. The only glitch with this timeframe, which the doctor has set for me, is that I would miss out on the West Indies tour in May. I intend to make up for that by playing and proving my match fitness in the English county circuit,” he says.

A pity that, since India won a Test in the Windies largely due to Nehra’s efficient effort with the ball the last time they toured the Isles. “He is a jewel in India’s crown,” was how famous commentator Tony Cozier had defined Nehra’s usefulness at the time.

“There are a lot of fast bowlers around now. Why would people recognise me?” says Nehra in jest. “It is extremely good for Indian cricket that there is now a pool of seven-eight pace bowlers who can be called up to deliver at any point of time for the national team. Today, Munaf Patel and Irfan Pathan are bowling well. Tomorrow, if they get injured, I, Zaheer, or L Balaji can always step in.” But wouldn’t Nehra find the comeback difficult? “It is never easy for a fast bowler to make a comeback. Bowling at a quick pace, which I tend to do most often, requires a lot of effort, which is not recognised by a lot of people.”

What makes Nehra optimistic is the attitude of national selectors while he was away. “They, including the team management, kept inquiring about me. And, having not hurled the cherry for the last six months, I am now dying to bowl.”