If Sourav Ganguly is hurt and bruised, spare a thought for Zaheer Khan. Sitting at home in Pune, the best fast bowler of the current domestic season, must be wondering what he needs to do right before being recalled to the national team. Indeed, where Ganguly’s career is in its twilight, Zaheer is in what should be his prime.Zaheer’s continued omission is baffling on two counts. First, when the selection committee named Ganguly in the team for the First Test against Sri Lanka, they announced that the former captain had been selected over Zaheer Khan as a bowling all-rounder. Now that Ganguly’s been dropped, the replacement is another batsman, Wasim Jaffer; what happens to the void in the bowling component?Second, bringing in Jaffer was a nod to the latter’s domestic form and his prospects for the future; what about Zaheer? He was the leading wicket-taker in this season’s Duleep Trophy with 23 wickets, bowling at an economy rate of 2.87. In the Ranji Trophy so far, Zaheer already has 10 wickets from three games. That form becomes significant in the context of the upcoming tour of Pakistan. Past records favour him — Zaheer was the second-highest wicket-taker in the ODIs in 2003-04 — but, more important, so do current conditions.The ongoing Pakistan-England series has been highlighted by the sustained brilliance of Shoaib Akhtar and the able support of Mohammed Sami, both helped by fast pitches. Those are conditions that favour Zaheer, possibly more than someone like Ajit Agarkar.In the international arena, Zaheer has been the second-most successful bowler after the phenomenal Irfan, taking 38 wickets since 2003. He was dropped from the ODI team for lack of form. Yet he has his fans among the fast bowlers’ fraternity. ‘‘Zaheer remains India’s best bet with the new ball,’’ says Javagal Srinath. And TA Sekar of the MRF Pace Academy feels Zaheer has worked hard ‘‘ever since he realised the importance of fitness in the game’’. — K. SHRINIWAS RAO
