Naik wants Zaheer to rip Australia apart

Updated on: 24 March,2011 06:55 AM IST |
Harit N Joshi | sports@mid-day.com

Zaheer Khan has single-handedly carried the load of India's bowling attack on his able shoulders in the World Cup so far

Zaheer Khan has single-handedly carried the load of India's bowling attack on his able shoulders in the World Cup so far. He will once again be crucial bowler in the quarter-final match against Australia at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera here today.

There's a mini contest going on between Zaheer and Australia in ICC tournaments. It all started when they first met in the Champions Trophy in Nairobi in 2000 when he burst on the international stage, grabbing the wickets of Adam Gilchrist and Steve Waugh. In the 2003 World Cup final, it was the Aussie batsmen who targeted him. A lot of water has flown under the bridge since then.

"I told him he should rip apart the Aussies batting line-up. He is the main wicket-taker of the team and I am confident he will fire," Naik told MiD DAY.

Naik, the curator of the Wankhede Stadium, is here to oversee the pitch preparations.

"A lot will depend on how the wicket is. I am confident he will get early breakthroughs for us as the Australian batsmen are not in form. But other bowlers should also support him (in taking wickets) if India has to win," he said.

Australia's Michael Hussey admitted Zaheer has become a very skillful bowler. "Zaheer is very skillful with the new ball and old, and can play a role throughout the innings, rather than being a specialist death bowler," Hussey said.

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