Retiring Zaheer calls 2011 WC victory as 'best moment of career'

Zaheer Khan, who has announced his retirement from the international cricket, said that winning the 2011 World Cup in his home country was a golden moment in his career.

"World Cup was something really special. Winning the world cup puts you right up there and to be able to achieve that once in your career is really something very special in any cricketer's life," said the 37-year-old left-arm pace bowler.

"It has been a fantastic journey. I have enjoyed every moment of it. There have been ups and downs but to comeback from all the downs have been something special. 'Zak is back' is something which will always stay with me. I feel proud of the fact the way things have gone for me and the way I have reacted to the situation which I have been put under," Zaheer added by saying that he has every intension of giving back to the game of cricket.

The former Indian pace spearhead had claimed 311 wickets at an average of 32.94 in 92 Tests and 282 at 29.43 in 200 one-day internationals. He played a crucial role in India's 2011 World Cup winning campaign, taking 21 wickets to become the tournament's joint leading wicket-taker with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.

Although Zaheer will be available for next year's edition of the Indian Premier League, he said that he would retire from all forms of cricket after the conclusion of the Twenty20 competition.