‘Fit’ Zaheer ready, Kumble hopes to make Test squad

The injuries to several bowlers of the Indian team have been a cause of worry, of late. While Harbhajan Singh and Ajit Agarkar are still rec...

The injuries to several bowlers of the Indian team have been a cause of worry, of late. While Harbhajan Singh and Ajit Agarkar are still recovering from their niggles, Zaheer Khan has just made it to the ODI team for the tour of Pakistan. But Anil Kumble, the man who claimed a ‘Perfect 10’ against Pakistan a few years ago, will be sorely missed as the leggie hasn’t fully recovered from his shoulder injury sustained during the tour of Australia last year.

During the unveiling of the Samsung Cup in the Capital today, the two Indian bowlers talked about their injuries and recoveries. ‘‘I am increasing my workload slowly to get match-fit. Anyway, there are still a few days remaining before we leave for Pakistan,’’ Zaheer said.

Zaheer said he was working on the changes in his bowling stride which Dennis Lillee had suggested at the MRF Pace Academy. ‘‘I am trying to cut on the jump before the delivery,’’ he added.

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Asked whether he was practising the reverse swing with which some of the Pakistani bowlers had taken several wickets in the past, the Baroda speedster shot back: ‘‘Taking wickets for the country is more important. How you take them (by normal deliveries or reverse swing) is not important as long as you take them.’’

Kumble said he was confident of being fit for the Test series. ‘‘Presently, I am doing muscle strengthening exercises and bowling at the nets. I should be fully fit in the next three weeks.’’

Kumble agreed that for a spinner it would be a challenge to rein in the Pakistani batsmen. ‘‘If you look at their record, they are not great against spin. So as a spinner you can look forward to playing there,’’ the Karnataka spinner said. Aggressive opener Virender Sehwag said he had not devised any specific gameplan for the opposition bowlers, led by Shoaib Akhtar. “I am practising at the nets. I am also watching video clippings to observe their bowlers,” he said.

BCCI vice-president Ranbir Singh Mahendra, who unveiled the Samsung Cup, said with a punch: ‘‘Our cricketers will carry the message of friendship and peace to Pakistan. What some people couldn’t achieve (lasting peace between the two nations), our cricketers will do, I am sure.’’

Debris found in Dal Lake could be from missile Pak fired during Op Sindoor

India2 hr ago

Debris believed to be from a missile fired by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May has been found in Srinagar's Dal Lake. The debris has been handed over to the Air Force for further investigation. Sources say the target may have been a military installation in Srinagar, which is close to the lake. The make of the missile is yet to be determined.

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