Lucknow Super Giants to part ways with Zaheer Khan: Report

Lucknow Super Giants is all set to part ways with mentor Zaheer Khan, according to a report in TOI. Khan’s one-year-long contract with the franchise expired last month.

Zaheer had replaced Gautam Gambhir as a mentor after the latter moved to the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023. The former Indian pacer was also looking after the bowling responsibilities after Morne Morkel joined India’s support staff as a bowling coach.

“LSG is set to part ways with Zaheer Khan and the new mentor will be given a bigger role to monitor RPSG Group’s other franchises,” the report cited a source as saying.

The franchise had already named Bharat Arun as their new bowling coach on July 30.

“Arun’s role is also extensive as he will be given an extra responsibility for scouting and working on their young quicks for Durban’s Super Giants and, from next year, with the Manchester Originals as well,” the source in the report added.

Bharat had done a terrific job as India’s bowling coach while partnering former head coach Ravi Shastri. Arun is delighted to join LSG ahead of the new season of the IPL and he would look to get the best out of bowlers like Akash deep, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Akash Singh.

“It’s an honour to join the Lucknow Super Giants, a franchise that reflects professionalism, ambition, and vision at every level,” Arun said in a statement. “My conversations with Dr. Sanjiv Goenka and the management were incredibly energizing – there is a clear intent to invest in young Indian talent and build a long-term legacy.

“What excites me most is the vision for long-term development. LSG has invested in a young, talented, and dynamic group of Indian fast bowlers – Akash deep, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Akash Singh – and I see immense potential in each of them. My mission is to help shape them into a cohesive, fearless, and tactically sharp pace unit that can challenge the best batting line-ups in the world.”

In the previous season, LSG had ended the season in seventh place after six wins and eight losses and had failed to qualify for the playoffs under Rishabh Pant’s leadership.