Delhi:Former Indian cricket team fast bowler Praveen Kumar has taken steps towards rejoining the game after almost eight years of retiring from cricket. He has applied for a place in the Junior Selection Committee of BCCI. Praveen says that now he wants to contribute to what cricket has given him.

39-year-old Praveen Kumar retired from all forms of cricket in 2018. After this, he has also been associated with coaching and has also played the role of selector in Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association.

'Cricket gave me a lot, now I want to give something back'

BCCI had invited applications for five posts of Junior Selection Committee on August 24. Regarding his application, Praveen Kumar said that he does not want to move away from cricket completely. He told that he has done coaching before and has also been a selector in UPCA.

He believes that these experiences can now be used in the development of young players. Identifying talents at the junior level and giving them the right direction is also a new opportunity for them to stay connected with cricket.

Has played 84 international matches for Team India

Praveen Kumar's international career may not have been long, but he left his mark for India in all three formats. He played 6 Tests, 68 ODIs and 10 T20 International matches for India.

Praveen was India's highest wicket-taker during the England tour in 2011. He took 15 wickets in that series, which also included a brilliant performance of 5 wickets for 106 runs in the Lord's Test.

Earlier, Praveen Kumar had also played an important role in the CB series played in Australia in 2008. He contributed to India's title victory by taking 10 wickets in four matches.

There will be a tough challenge in the central zone

Praveen Kumar, who has applied for the Junior Selection Committee, is expected to face a tough challenge from the Central Zone. Sudeep Tyagi has also applied for this post. Tyagi has also been the selector of Hyderabad in the last season.

Former fast bowler Ashish Winston Zaidi of Uttar Pradesh has also applied. In such a situation, the contest between the candidates coming from the Central Zone can be interesting. Former Indian off-spinner Ramesh Powar and former Mumbai batsman Manoj Joglekar have applied from West Zone.