It is about continuity: LSG mentor Zaheer Khan on IPL retention policy

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan feels that a retention policy is necessary in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to facilitate continuity within the franchise system. 

Asked whether retention is necessary, Zaheer, the newly appointed mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) said, “Yes, because it is about continuity.” 

“It has to have that right balance. It is also a very young league compared to different leagues in the world, so it's about identifying what milestones they are looking at are going to be. Until that point, I am sure the retention should be there,” added the 45-year-old in his interview with Cricbuzz. 

Zaheer, who has represented Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, said that he felt an instant like-mindedness with the owners, which led him to board the LSG bandwagon and replace Gautam Gambhir as mentor. 

“If I have to answer it in quick words, I got on the call, and I realised that we (the LSG management) are very like-minded people about cricket, how cricket should be played at the franchise level and how the cricketing culture should be built in a franchise,” he said. 

Zaheer is most likely to double up as a bowling coach. Apart from Gambhir in early 2024, Morne Morkel, the bowling coach of the LSG, left them at the end of IPL 2024 to pursue a similar coaching role for the Indian national cricket team under Gambhir as head coach. The Mumbai man will have the support of Justin Langer and Lance Klusener by his side at LSG. 

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