Image courtesy of: MSN

Khan was not included in India’s Champions Trophy squad

India veteran pace bowler Zaheer Khan has announced that he is “itching” to make his international return and regain his spot in the national team after spending four-and-a-half months on the sidelines with a calf injury he picked while playing in the Ranji Trophy.

Khan noted that he was feeling much better and would be using the time to train and get back into shape ahead of India’s next series.

“I’m definitely feeling much better but I know I’ve still got a long way to go,” Khan said. “I have to put in some serious work into my fitness and form to reclaim my place in the Indian team. That’s what’s on my mind right now – I want to use that period to get stronger, fitter and improve in all the areas.”

Khan was not included in India’s 15-man Champions Trophy squad, but is hoping to make his comeback at some point in the near future.

“I was itching to get back on the field but I always take my time to come back whenever I am injured,” he said. “This time too, I could have played a couple of matches earlier but it’s always good to be a game late than coming back too early. That was the thinking between the trainer, physio and me.”

Due to poor match performances and fitness problems, Khan was dropped from India’s Test squad for their four-Test series against England late last year and from the ODI side as well when they faced arch-rivals Pakistan at the end of the year.