While training for the ongoing domestic season, the retirement bug crawled into Zaheer Khan’s mind. “It is the toughest decision in a cricketer’s life but it comes to you. I was clear in my head, ready to accept it,” said Khan, who was instrumental in India’s World Cup win in 2011 with 21 wickets.
Khan had been ignored for the ICC World Cup 2015 and also, the series that followed IPL, in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. “But a selection is only possible when I am regularly performing well in domestic games. I had spoken to Mumbai Cricket Association officials declaring that I will be available. I was taking my time when I realised it’s time to go,” he said.
On his skippers
India’s limited-overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni called him a “clever” bowler after learning about his retirement. What made him clever?
“If you go with the game on the field, analysing situations and batsmen, I think that is when you are categorised as clever… All my captains (Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Dhoni) had their own style. They gave me the field I wanted, that’s what you expect as a bowler. But Dada (Ganguly) was an animated captain, always excited and backing the youngsters. He gave the much needed freedom to the young players so that they could express themselves,” says Khan.
Contemporaries and effect of his retirement
Yuvraj Singh is the other Indian cricketer who made his debut alongside Khan. Will his friend’s retirement cause a stir in his mind too?
“It should not. As I said earlier, this decision comes to you. Now once I go, I will have a good chat with my friends and probably pull their leg when I meet them. But I want to be connected to cricket,” said Khan, who is eyeing IPL’s ninth season as his swansong in T20 cricket.
Khan said that he met Sachin Tendulkar, spoke to Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra as well after taking the call. “They all were happy and spoke about my journey,” he said.
Zaheer on quote:
Trick on Graeme Smith who Khan dismissed 14 times: “At times, when he did not do anything, I would just look at him. It worked.”
World Cup 2003, finals: “It was a learning curve. The boys were charged up after the national anthem but I acted out of my character and lost control in the first over.”
World Cup 2007, India’s early exit: “It was a tough dressing room.”
World Cup 2011: “The same feeling happened to me, like in 2003, before bowling the first over. I was zoned out. I was lucky to get a second chance.”
Message for Team India who are up against South Africa now: “Win it!”
