Veteran India fast bowler Zaheer Khan is full of surprises. From a being World Cup champion to a successful entrepreneur, life is full of challenges for the 36-year-old. “As far as my restaurants or hospitality business is concerned, I’m doing it since 2004, along with my younger brother Anees and he takes most of the pressure. Although the bidding was mine, most of the applications or ideas are his. So we form a good team in that regard. My company Pro-Sport is something which is my passion,” said Khan, who runs a chain of restaurants, gym and fitness centres across Pune and Mumbai.
“I understand the importance of health and wellness and keeping that in mind I came up with this idea of injury management. I always wanted to do something different. I have been going abroad to get medical help and always dreamt of providing that kind of facility in India. A lot of aspiring athletes can benefit under this, so the idea is to get maximum help in the form of facilities and equipment through Pro-Sports,” Khan added. Born in the small town of Shrirampur in Maharashtra, Zak, as he is fondly called, was interested in cricket from his childhood. He spent three years developing his skills at the MRF Pace Academy.
Zaheer made his Test debut at 22 against Bangladesh in 2000. In 2011, after India’s successful run at the World Cup, he became a national hero. The sturdy pacer, who took 21 wickets to finish as the second highest wicket-taker in the event, was one of the key players in India’s first World Cup victory on home soil.
Recalled Zaheer, “The 2011 World Cup win was the most special moment of my life. It was special for everyone who was part of it. It was a moment to feel proud in front of the whole world as we finally held the World Cup in our hands. It’s something which I will cherish forever.”
After the 2011 World Cup, Zaheer has been in and out of the team, unable to hold on to his spot but the Indian Premier League always kept him busy.
Playing for Delhi Daredevils this year, the pacer came with some prolific performances. Asked about the reasons behind his “recent success”, he said, “It’s not about giving credit to anyone, it’s how you do the right thing at the right time and if I have to give credit to someone then it will be to the viewers and of course working with Pro-Sport, trying to get the right advice and moving forward. “I wanted to get back to the game, even though it was a tough challenge. But it was good to get back to playing again.”
Juggling sports and business may be a tough task for most, but Zaheer manages it with elan. “As far as hospitality is concerned, my brother takes most of the pressure. But when it comes to Pro-Sports, I’m doing most of the work. One of the things I teach youngsters is that in order to be successful in a team sport, they have to cope with pressure on and off the field and play their roles in the team as best as they can.” When he gets a break from his hectic schedule, the 36-year-old loves to watch movies. He prefers not to think about cricket or sport on his off days and tries to relax fully.
“When I’m free I like watching movies, listening to music and other than that I spend my time in gymming, it’s something I really enjoy doing. “I also love to travel... I haven’t been able to see many European countries so try to explore them. Also, I love to travel London especially in summers because the weather is really pleasant there.” Music also makes Zaheer unwind after a hectic day.
“I enjoy listening to music, but there is no particular genre that I prefer. It’s just that, when music is around I feel happy. I don’t have any specific liking, I mean there is no favourite as I listen all kinds of stuff.” Zaheer said his parents are the best guides and driving force in his life. “My folks are my support system. My mother is my biggest strength and I’m glad to have such a nice family for support throughout my career,” said Zaheer, who has two siblings.
