Zaheer backs Pathan, Balaji

Multan:

Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has said that the emergence of young seamers Irfan Pathan and L Balaji is a "good sign for Indian cricket" but the duo needs to keep improving. Zaheer said the two bowlers have so far shown a lot of promise at the highest level for which he could afford to bowl first change in one-dayers in recent times. "Fast bowling is a tough job and I am happy that Irfan and Balaji have come through. They have worked hard and have to now sustain that level and keep improving," Zaheer said. The 25-year-old pace bowler from Baroda, returning into the team after a gap of nearly two months because of a hamstring injury sustained during the Australian tour, said he knew the tour of Pakistan was "going to be tough" for him. "I had not played competitive cricket for two months and needed some time to get my rhythm back. I am improving after every match and it's just a matter of bowling more overs," he explained. Zaheer struggled for his rhythm and proved to be quite expensive conceding as many as 291 runs in 45 overs during the five-match one-day series against Pakistan. (PTI)