Zaheer Khan on a different wicket

Cricketer Zaheer Khan is looking fit and dapper after his six-month-long training in France. He reveals that he will be in South Africa for his next phase of training, and is eyeing his return to domestic cricket in October this year.
Settling down in his recently spruced up restaurant, ZK’s Toss, a sports lounge in the city, the cricketer admits that he is a foodie.And that is probably one of the reasons why he set up his company Zaheer Khan’s Hospitality Pvt. Ltd eight years ago. However, the cricketer does not mince his words when he says that he also needed to have a back-up plan, in case his cricketing career faced hurdles.
“If you recall in my cricketing career, there was a phase where I was constantly getting injured. At that phase I realized I should have something to fall back on. The career of fast bowlers is quite unpredictable, in terms of injuries. And I have been struggling with a lot of injuries. So I need to see beyond cricket. That’s how I got into this business.” However, he is quick to add, “Cricket, of course, will always be my passion.”
Unveiling his off-pitch plans, Zaheer says, “After having established ourselves in the restaurant business, we now wish to work in specialized areas like sports lounge, fine dine restaurants, theme restaurants, cafes and banqueting. We have revamped the entire property at Lulla Nagar, which houses Zaheer Khan’s Dine Fine, Foyer and the stylish sports lounge, Toss.”
The company is now all set to expand and the Khans are looking at other cities to establish their brand.
While conceding that there is none to beat his mum’s home-cooked biryani, Zaheer says he is also a good cook. “I enjoy making pasta and keema. When I was training in France, I brushed up my cooking skills as well,” he laughed.
Confessing that he is “pretty laid back” off the field, Zaheer says he likes to chill out with friends and watch movies. Any marriage plans? “A lot of things in my life have not really been planned. As of now, I would like to concentrate on my cricket and business ventures. I don’t plan. Whenever it happens, it will,” he signs off.