Zaheer named Wisden's Cricketer of the year in their 2008 edition

Zaheer Khan has been chosen as one of the Wisden’s ‘Five Cricketers of the Year’ in their 2008 edition, to be released on Wednesday. Zaheer has been honoured in the 145th edition of the world’s longest-running sporting yearbook with a profile written by ToI’s Pradeep Vijayakar for his outstanding bowling on India’s tour to England last year in which he took 18 wickets in three Tests. India won the series 1-0 under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid, their first series triumph in England since 1986. Zaheer is joined by two other pace bowlers, England’s Ryan Sidebottom and West Indian Otis Gibson, who is also fast bowling coach for the England team. Gibson, last year at the age of 37, took all ten wickets for 47 runs for Durham against Hampshire in the English county championship. The other two are West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul England batsman Ian Bell. South Africa’s Jacques Kallis has been chosen as ‘Leading Cricketer in the World’, an award first constituted in 2004 and previously awarded to Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Andrew Flintoff and Muttiah Muralitharan. For the first time, five legendary cricketers who for some reason or the other were never named among Wisden’s Five, have been profiled. These include former India left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi, who is profiled by former England captain Mike Brearley. The other four are Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul Haq, West Indies fast bowling great Wes Hall, Australian pace legend Jeff Thomson and Pakistan’s master leg-spinner of the 80s, Abdul Qadir. Zaheer is the 13th Indian Test player to be named in the list of the famous five that was first instituted by Wisden in 1897.

Zaheer will not play against SA

Zaheer Khan is out of the Test series against South Africa. The injured left-arm seamer back from Johannesburg following a rehabilitation process, announced this himself just prior to the launch of Vijay Mallya owned Royal Challengers Bangalore team on Wednesday. "I am not ready for international cricket as yet," said Zaheer, adding: "It is not as if I am not fit yet, in fact I have started bowling but it is a question of being match fit." Zaheer was clear that he wasn't just looking at 100% readiness but in fact wanted to be 120% sure of being ready. "I have been told not to push things," he revealed. Zaheer is planning to play a few club and first class games before he tries a comeback into the Indian side. He however ruled out playing in the Deodhar Trophy, saying it was too early. As for turning out in the IPL tournament, Zaheer hope to be fit by then. "Hopefully I will be in a position to play four weeks from now. I am progressing well at the moment.”