Zaheer Khan's fitness is sore point

November 10, 2012

Zaheer_Khan

Mumbai, November 10: The big question surrounding Team India's bowling ahead of the first Test against England is Zaheer Khan's fitness. His ability or lack of it to last the distance will be crucial to India's chances. On Friday afternoon, when 14 of the 15-member squad arrived at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium for a preparatory camp, Zaheer clearly didn't seem very sprightly.

He walked on to the field with the rest of his mates, got into a huddle, played a bit of football as part of the warm-up' and headed straight to the massage table after a brief chat with coach Duncan Fletcher. Zaheer spent the next 40 minutes with physiotherapist Evan Speechly, who helped the bowler with his stretching and muscle relaxation routine. By then, the rest of the squad had hit the nets and put in a strenuous two-hour session. The left-arm seamer joined the rest of the bowlers in the nets later, bowling around 25 to 30 deliveries at military medium. His strides were slow and the trademark jump at the crease was non-existent.

There was no official information available on Zaheer's fitness' which first looked doubtful when the bowler had pulled up sore, clutching his groin, and walked away during Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Railways last Sunday.

He was expected to bowl on Monday but did not return to the field. His lack of match-fitness' evident during Friday's net session' only added to the mystery.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team - barring off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who couldn't make it to Mumbai as his flight got delayed - hit the nets with a great deal of camaraderie.

Coach Duncan Fletcher and bowling coach Joe Dawes kept a close watch as Sachin Tendulkar batted on three different practice pitches against a host of bowlers before spending a good 20 minutes knocking. Virender Sehwag, who had suffered a minor cut to his right index finger in a recent Ranji Trophy match, also batted in the nets and looked comfortable. The rest of the bowling attack looked in good touch. Spinners R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha bowled in tandem and so did Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, who ran in fast and hit the deck.

The younger lot - the recently engaged Cheteshwar Pujara' an in-form Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay - too padded up and spent quality time in the middle.

The squad looked in good shape and spirit, apart from, of course, Zaheer.

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News Network
June 13,2020

Mumbai, Jun 13: Vasant Raiji, who was India's oldest first-class cricketer at 100, died in Mumbai in the wee hours of Saturday.

Raiji was 100 years old and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

"He (Raiji) passed away at 2.20 am in his sleep at his residence in Walkeshwar in South Mumbai due to old-age," his son-in-law Sudarshan Nanavati told PTI.

Raiji, a right-handed batsman, played nine first-class matches in the 1940s, scoring 277 runs with 68 being his highest score.

He made his debut for a Cricket Club of India team that played Central Provinces and Berar in Nagpur in 1939.

His Mumbai debut happened in 1941 when the team played Western India under the leadership of Vijay Merchant.

Raiji, also a cricket historian and chartered accountant, was 13 when India played its first Test match at the Bombay Gymkhana in South Mumbai.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and former Australian skipper Steve Waugh had paid a courtesy visit to Raiji at his residence in January when he had turned 100.

It has been learnt that the cremation will take place at the Chandanwadi crematorium in South Mumbai on Saturday afternoon.

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Agencies
June 8,2020

New Delhi, Jun 8: Indian pacer S Sreesanth has slammed England all-rounder Ben Stokes for questioning MS Dhoni's intent during a World Cup match, saying that the former captain will end Stokes' career.

Stokes in his book titled 'On Fire' had questioned Dhoni's intent during India's 31-run defeat at the hands of England in the premier tournament last year.

"For Ben Stokes, I will only say that you should pray that Dhoni does not play against you in the future. Dhoni does not forget things easily," Sreesanth said during a Live session on Helo.

"I wish Stokes all the best for whenever he faces Dhoni again, be it IPL or an England vs India match. You must be earning in millions now, Dhoni Bhai will end your career. Dhoni will strike the ball everywhere and he (Stokes) can never dismiss Dhoni. Before he (Stokes) opens his mouth, he should make sure to wear a helmet," he added.

Former West Indies pacer Michael Holding had also come out in support of Dhoni and said that the wicket-keeper batsman wanted to win the match against England.

"Well, people will write anything in books these days, because people are a lot more free with their opinions and when they are writing books, they need to be making headlines at times," Holding had said on his official YouTube channel.

"...It was not the game that India had to win, but I don't think anyone can say that was a team tactic to lose the game. I watched that game and it appeared to me as if India weren't putting up their 100 percent, but I realised it was not the case when the expression on MS Dhoni's face told me that he desperately wanted to win, so I do not think it was a team decision to not try to win," he had added.

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News Network
April 2,2020

New Delhi, Apr 2: BJP MP and former cricketer Gautam Gambhir on Thursday said that he will donate his two year's salary to PM-CARES Fund to support the battle against coronavirus pandemic in the country.

"People ask what can their country do for them. The real question is what can you do for your country? I am donating my 2 year's salary to #PMCaresFund. You should come forward too! @narendramodi @JPNadda @BJP4Delhi #IndiaFightsCorona," Gambhir tweeted.

The total number of coronavirus cases in India climbed to 1965 on Thursday after 131 people confirmed positive in the past 12 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

At present, there are 1764 COVID-19 active cases in the country and 50 people have died due to the lethal infection.

Interestingly, on this day in 2011, India lifted its second World Cup title after a drought of 28 years. Gambhir played a crucial role in the final and anchored the run-chase.

India won its first World Cup in 1983 under the leadership of former all-rounder Kapil Dev. 

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