Haven’t thought about joining politics, open to India’s bowling coach role

Once upon a time (in 2000), into the wild on the lap of the rustic Maasai culture in Nairobi, arrived a soldier. I have lived by those words right through my career. Australia required 42 off 48 to win, a cinch with Steve Waugh stealing quick singles and Brett Lee going for the aerial route before a fellow 22-year-old rattled the classy finisher.

“I had not slept the night before”. He also egged me on with healthy competition. Many have described him as the complete left-arm pacer. Two of the dismissals were incisive yorkers – one of his staple weapons in those days.

Sachin Tendulkar: One of the coolest pace bowlers I know.

The 37-year-old has had on-field tussles with a number of opposition batsmen, but the on-field confrontations with former South Africa captain Graeme Smith are unforgettable.

When asked whether he was willing to be India’s next bowling coach, Zak said, “That I was doing naturally when I was playing so why not now?” Was imminent but his contribution to Indian cricket isn’t over. I felt, “If he were here, he would have told us what to do”. He groomed me as a bowler. While training for the ongoing domestic season, the retirement bug crawled into his mind. “Any batsman who is in form is tough to bowl to”.

Khan had been ignored for the ICC World Cup 2015 and also, the series that followed IPL in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

“I was at the Feroz Shah Kotla, playing a Ranji (Trophy) game yesterday”.

Despite impediments, Khan has no regrets. The former cricketer was addressing a press conference in Kolkata after taking over as Cricket Association of Bengal President.

“With immediate effect, I bid adieu to my career in worldwide cricket”, Khan said in a statement, adding the next edition of the Indian Premier League would be his last. At times, I tended to worry too much about things like where my right hand is loading and whether my release is right. From that after being dropped (dropped in 2012 after third Test against England at home) I have come out of that situation, is how I look at my career. Replacing Zaheer Khan as the spearhead is not an easy job.

India is no country for fast bowlers. What made him clever? I said, ‘Zak pa, agar aap sab ko out karoge to main kya karunga (if you get all the wickets, there will be none for me)’. All my captains (Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Dhoni) had their own style. Ishant was quoted saying ” Zak pa used to tell me “When you’re bowling, just bowl. “If the best of the batsmen are not in-form it is right that you should be attacking”, he said.