Zaheer Khan celebrated his 41st birthday on Monday. Birthday wishes had poured in for Zaheer from all corners. Be it from the fans or the cricketing fraternity, everyone came forward to wish him. Even his former Indian team-mate and one of his best friends Virender Sehwag had also come forward to wish the pace icon. What followed thereafter was friendly banter between both great cricketers. 

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Viru and Zak's new nicknames

On the occasion of Zaheer Khan's birthday, Sehwag had wished him a great year ahead by addressing him as 'Zak Baba' . At the same time, Viru had also posted a picture of himself and Zaheer from their playing days. Take a look.

Virender Sehwag is known for his great sense of humor on social media. Nonetheless, Zaheer Khan also showed that even he has the ability to take on the best just like how Zaheer the batsman used to hit the top-class fast bowlers out of the boundary. Zak addressed Viru as 'Lala' and then let the former vice-captain know that he would catch up with him soon.

For the unaware, 'Lala' is not Virender Sehwag's nickname. He was known as the 'Nawab of Najafgarh' and 'Sultan of Multan' . Lala, on the other hand, is the nickname of former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi. 

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Zak and Viru's friendship

Both Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag's friendship goes a long way back. The duo has been a part of many of India's famous triumphs that include the 2002 Natwest tri-series against England, joint-winners of ICC Champions Trophy along with Sri Lanka, runners-up at the 2003 World Cup, historic series win against Pakistan in their own backyard in 2003-04, Asia Cup 2010, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, etc. 

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'India's greatest ever seam bowlers,' says ICC on Khan's birthday

Before announcing his retirement in 2015, Zaheer Khan played 309 matches across formats for India and picked up more than 600 wickets. He was also a part of the Indian squad that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011. On his birthday, several cricketing stars and former teammates including Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman took to Twitter to wish him. The official Twitter handle of ICC also tweeted to wish Zaheer on his birthday. 

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