BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Former World batting star Brian Lara has begun his preparation for a possible return to cricket, as speculation continues over a stint with English County Surrey and a debut in the lucrative Indian Premier League next year.
The 41-year-old Lara, one of the finest batsman to have played the game, told CMC Sports while he had made no concrete plans, he was still keeping himself in shape and honing his skills.“It’s still early days. I’m playing cricket again which is good, I’m practicing which is great,” Lara said.
“I’m still playing my golf, I’m still doing my business. At my age, you just do everything at a good pace and see where you get to.”
The prodigious left-hander has not played international cricket since his retirement three years ago but recent reports indicated Lara was willing to make a comeback in Twenty20s for Surrey later this summer.
Former IPL boss Lalit Modi also recently hinted during the just concluded season in India that Lara could feature in the cash-rich tournament during the next edition.
Lara pointed out, however, that he was content to keep his options open regarding his future in the game.
“It’s nothing like where I’ve set goals or anything like that,” said the former West Indies captain.
“I’m enjoying my life. I can still do a few things because I’m still feeling fit and capable of doing it.”
Lara had participated in a season of the inaugural Indian Cricket League, a move that had previously debarred him from signing up with the IPL.
With the ICL now defunct, the batting genius is free to play in the IPL if he chooses.
Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon said last month they were in discussions with Lara over a possible stint in the Friends Provident T20 tournament.
“We are still closely in contact with Brian and in talks with him,” Sheldon was quoted as saying.
“The idea is that he will be involved in areas of the club other than cricket. But we are only talking to him about playing Twenty20 cricket for us.”
