Malik faces race against time to get fit

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik faces a race against time to get fit for next month’s home series against Zimbabwe.

Malik, who sat it out of the final two Tests against India due to an ankle injury, will begin an injury rehabilitation programme from tomorrow (Friday) at the National Cricket Academy in a bid to regain his match fitness.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told ‘The News’ that Malik will need at least three weeks to recover his fitness. “Doctors have removed the plaster from Shoaib Malik’s ankle today and have advised him to undergo a rehabilitation programme for the next three weeks,” said PCB spokesman Dr Ahsan Hameed Malik.

Shoaib, 25, injured his ankle while playing football with his teammates at a training session at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla Ground soon after the conclusion of Pakistan’s opening Test against India last month. The injury forced him to miss the next two Tests in Kolkata and Bangalore.

Malik is now hoping to return to national duty by leading Pakistan in the five-match ODI series against the visiting Zimbabweans. He would be helped in his bid to regain match fitness by Dr Sohail Saleem, PCB’s chief medical officer, and trainer Abdul Saboor.

“He (Malik) is feeling much better and is confident of regaining full match fitness ahead of the series against Zimbabwe,” Ahsan said. Another key Pakistan team player — Mohammad Asif — will also begin his campaign to recover from an elbow surgery from today.

The lanky medium pacer, who underwent an elbow surgery in Australia earlier this month, is hoping to recover in time for the home series against Australia to be held in March-April. “Asif will work with Saboor at the NCA according to plan prepared for him by David Dwyer (the Pakistan team trainer),” said Ahsan.

He said that Asif will have to undergo physical training sessions for several weeks before starting his bowling practice. Meanwhile, fellow pacer Umar Gul has recovered from a back problem and will start bowling in the nets at the NCA from January 1. “A hectic international season left Pakistan will a lot of injury problems but all the unfit players are now on the path to recover,” said Ahsan.