Zaheer to test match fitness in Ranji tie

Zaheer has been named in Mumbai’s squad for the match and is also scheduled to play the next Ranji tie in Rajkot against Saurashtra from December 6-9, said Mumbai Cricket Association Joint Secretary Nitin Dalal.

“He has been picked for the match against Orissa by the selectors and has expressed his intention to play in the match against Saurashtra too,” said Dalal.

Zaheer is considered crucial to India’s fortunes in the upcoming Test tour of Australia, for which the squad is to be picked today, with the first Test scheduled in Melbourne from December 26.

He broke down after bowling only 13.4 overs in the opening Test of the high-profile series in England and India suffered a major blow to their hopes of retaining number one ranking which they relinquished after being thrashed 0-4 by Andrew Strauss’ men.

Mumbai, who have 10 points in their kitty, have also brought in left-handed batsman Hiken Shah into the 15-member squad against Orissa.

Mumbai Squad:Wasim Jaffer (Captain), Ankit Chavan, Zaheer Khan, Dhaval Kulkarni, Ajit Agarkar, Avishkar Salvi, Ramesh Powar, Hiken Shah, Abhishek Nayar, Nikhil Patil (Jr.), Suryakumar Yadav, Kaustubh Pawar, Onkar Gurav, Akhil Herwadkar and Iqbal Abdullah.