Zeenews Sports Bureau
Mumbai: Chairman of selector Kris Srikkanth said Zaheer would have to prove his match fitness before he gets the clearance to travel to Australia.
"Zaheer will play in a couple of Ranji Trophy matches. And once he is fully match-fit and everything is fine, he will join the side. He may also go with the team as by the time (the team leaves) he would have played a couple of matches by that time," Srikkanth told reporters after the meeting of the selection committee that chose the team for upcoming Australian tour.
Srikkanth said the selectors have chosen a balanced side and he hoped the team will do well in Australia.
"We have chosen a very balanced side. We have taken everything into account, including fitness and Australian conditions. If you ask me today whether this team can beat Australia in Australia, I would say I`m very confident. We should beat Australia in Australia in a Test series," he said.
"Our batsman are in form, our bowlers are in form. And now we have all kinds of bowlers. We have fast bowlers, medium fast bowlers, we have swing bowlers, spinners -- left arm and off spin," said Srikkanth.
"So depending on the conditions there the team management will select the team on a match-to match basis. Let`s hope that this side beats Australia in Australia, which has been a very cherished dream for every Indian cricketer, and every Indian fan," he added.
"Unfortunately, we cannot help it as the team selects itself. In Australia, you cannot have more than two spinners. Pragyan Ojha and Ashwin are doing an excellent job. Sometimes it becomes bad luck and sometimes people miss out. I`m sure everyone has their own time and space to come back," the chief selector said.
First Published: Saturday, November 26, 2011, 13:45