Recently, new allegations have surfaced regarding Zaheer Khan’s talks to become a mentor in the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
With Gautam Gambhir leaving after the 2023 edition and Morne Morkel leaving after the 2024 edition, the former experienced pacer may be about to assume two jobs simultaneously—mentor and bowling coach—provided that the talks between the two parties are successful.
The fact that Zaheer serves as a mediator and a channel for in-depth contact between players and management is also stated in the same reports. Additionally, according to Cricbuzz, Indian businessman Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of LSG, wants someone like Zaheer to be in control of the division.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) previously hired Zaheer Khan as a bowling consultant for particular international trips.
After he announced his retirement from the IPL, he continued to serve in a similar capacity for the Mumbai Indians (MI). Indeed, there were a lot of rumours after Gambhir joined the Indian team that his old Indian teammate may be the Men in Blue’s bowling coach. That particular development, however, never materialised because the board quickly chose Morkel to take over, ostensibly at Gambhir’s request.
Under Gambhir’s new system in the Indian team, the Maharashtra native was previously considered as a possible bowling coach, a position for which he is highly regarded, with the specific responsibility of mentoring the team’s young and future pacers. Zaheer was well-known for coaching and teaching the team’s young fast bowlers even in his playing days for India.
The former Indian great will get the chance to collaborate with head coach Justin Langer and other seasoned players like Adam Voges, Lance Klusener, and Jonty Rhodes, to mention a few, if Zaheer and LSG are able to reach an agreement.
There are also rumours that a second highly respected coach will join LSG to work with Langer. On that point, there isn’t much clarification, though.
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