Injured Zaheer ruled out of Deccan encounter

Centurion, May 06: A shoulder injury will prevent Zaheer Khan from being a part of Mumbai Indians’ clash against Deccan Chargers on Wednesday.

Zaheer incurred the injury during his previous match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Zaheer attempted to stop a drive from Robin Uthappa, but fell on his bowling shoulder instead. He had to leave the ground then and there itself.

Both the Mumbai Indians and Team India could breathe a sigh of relief after subsequent scan reports claimed that the injury was not that serious and the pacer will be seen back in action soon. Zaheer had been picked for the Twenty20 World Cup to be played in England later in next month.

“He [Zaheer] had a scan on his injured shoulder today (on Tuesday). We had feared the worst but it’s not as bad as we thought it could be originally. There is a little bit of inflammation. We will be taking it day by day. But he will not be playing against Hyderabad (Deccan) and that’s for sure,” Shaun Pollock, Mumbai’s mentor-cum-coach, told the media after the team practice session, which Zaheer did not attend.

The Mumbai Indians are currently placed at the second last position in the points table of the Indian Premier League season 2. The team managed to emerge triumphant in only 3 of the 7 encounters they have faced.

Coach Pollock however said that he would not pressurise Zaheer to join the team soon, even though it was important for him to return as soon as possible; the reason being it is more important for the fast-bowler to be completely fit for the mega-event in June, rather than playing the cash-rich IPL.

“We understand that in the bigger picture there is the World Twenty20. We need to understand that so we don’t want him back in action before he is really ready. He has a huge career ahead of him and we don’t want to be stupid,” Pollock said.

When asked if Zaheer would be missing more games, Pollock refused to comment and said, “I am sure that at the earliest possibility we will want him back.”

Pollock said either Dhawal Kulkarni or Rahil Shaikh will replace Zaheer in the match against the Deccan. Kulkarni has played only one game this season while Shaikh, the left-arm fast bowler, is yet to make his IPL debut.