New Delhi: Days ahead of the kick-start of ninth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) Zaheer Khan warned selectors not to use the cash-rich tournament as the yardstick while picking bowlers for the national team.
Regarded as one of India's best speedsters, Zaheer said that bowlers should be picked according to the conditions and opposition.
"I think it has to go format wise. T20 format is hugely different from ODI format and so is ODI different from Test matches. I think when you judge players in T20 format, it should be based only on T20 performances,” he said.
Zaheer would be playing what could be his final IPL season, with the Delhi Daredevils.
He added that four overs in T20 is completely different from bowling “18 overs a day” in a Test match.
"In terms of higher level selection, it all depends on what kind of series we are playing. If it’s a Test series we have to look at bowlers differently. It is completely different bowling four overs in T20 to bowling 18 overs a day in Test match scenario and looking to get wickets," he explained.
In an illustrious career, Zaheer picked up 311 Test and 282 ODI wickets, besides taking another 17 wickets in T20Is. He retired from international cricket in October 2015.
The 2016 edition of IPL starts on April 9.
