Zaheer Khan not available for SA series

Bangalore, Mar 13 (UNI) Team India left arm pacer Zaheer Khan today ruled out his availability for the up coming South Africa tour, beginning in Chennai on March 26.

''I am not fully fit to play an international match and there is no possibility of my playing in the three test series against South Africa later this month,'' he told newspersons here last night.

Zaheer, who is part of the Royal Challengers Squad for BCCI's IPL, said ''I have started bowling, but doctors have advised me not to push myself. That is one thing I have learnt with experience. I will play some domestic cricket before I take a call...but Deodhar Trophy is too early.'' He said ''one of the reasons I am not ready for Test matches is that you have to bowl 30 to 35 overs across five days. But I have been advised to start with one-dayers and club games. I should be okay in four to six weeks from now. The progress after rehabilitation has been good.'' To a question, he said ''I want to return to the international arena only when I am fit, not 100 per cent but 120 per cent.'' The 29-year-old pacer, who came back last week from a three-week rehabilitation programme in Johannesburg, had returned from India's recently concluded tour of Australia after the first test with a bruised heel.

UNI MSP RAR DB1229