Zaheer to wear jersey No. 34 and inspire pacers
Indian star gets into shape to give his best for Bengal Tigers
Dubai: Zaheer Khan, the lynchpin of Indian pace attack not so long ago, will wear jersey No. 34 while playing for the Bengal Tigers in the second edition of the T10 League to be held from November 21 to December 2 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and guide the budding pacers in the squad.
Bengal Tigers team mentor Anis Sajan presented Zaheer with his jersey at a T10 promotional event in New Delhi on Friday.
Speaking to Gulf News after the event, Sajan said: “Zaheer preferred No. 34 and so we presented it to him. He is keen to entertain the fans wearing that jersey.”
Zaheer revealed why he opted for No. 34. “My date of birth is October 7. I did not prefer for No. 7 as it is the jersey number of (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni. So for me, 34 is three plus four and it is seven and I opted for it,” he said in a message.
Zaheer also revealed that he is working hard on his fitness to give his best. “I am already working with physiotherapist John Gloster. I am working with him daily on my fitness to give my best during the T10,” added Zaheer. Incidentally, Gloster who was former Team India physiotherapist is the Bengal Tigers’ physiotherapist.
Sajan, who had a lengthy discussion with Zaheer in New Delhi on team’s plans to win the title, said: “Zaheer will be more than a star player for us. He will provide invaluable tips to the young bowlers in the team like Amir Yamin, Rayad Emrit and Ali Khan. Zaheer said he is looking forward to play alongside them but also groom them.
“Zaheer will arrive on November 17 while our coach Stephen Fleming will arrive a day before. It will help all of us to work on strategies for the match.”
Zaheer’s mantra, according to Sajan, will be: “As batsmen will be aiming to score runs off every ball, every bowler will have to bring out new tricks to produce dot balls and take wickets.”