Fast bowler Mashrafee bin Murtaza expressed his desire to give a last fight to regain his fitness before the World Cup when he visited the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium on Monday after arriving from Sri Lanka.
Mashrafee looked confident after meeting Australian orthopaedic surgeon David Young in Colombo on January23, for his opinion on his right knee injury, he picked up while batting for Abahani against BKSP in the Dhaka Premier League on December 21 last year.
Mashrafee has been omitted from the 15-member Bangladesh squad for the upcoming World Cup due to injury.
‘I am confident of regaining my fitness before the World Cup, though I don’t know from when I can start bowling at full pace. Hopefully it will be very soon,’ Mashrafee told reporters at the SBNS on Monday.
‘I will take all measures to ensure I am fit and will prepare myself so that I can avail any opportunity,’ said Mashrafee.
David Young has confirmed that there is significant instability in the right knee and a tear to the ACL graft (which had previously been reconstructed). He also noted significant effusion, or swelling, in the knee joint.
The swelling and instability of knee joint do not bar Mashrafee from playing in the shorter version of the game, but if he continues to play for an extended period it lead to higher rates of degeneration and further damage, and is not recommended.
Mashrafee was advised that as a World Cup standby player he should continue his current rehabilitation programme with a view to regaining his form and fitness. Young advised him to have his right knee operated after the World Cup in order to repair the ACL graft and to return stability to the knee.
‘I know I will have to undergo the operation but it is not necessary right now, so after the World Cup I will decide on it,’ said Mashrafee.
‘Young has expressed his pleasure at the rehabilitation process to date and is very pleased with my progress so far,’ said Mashrafee.
In a bid of desperation to get himself match fitness Mashrafee also set his eyes to play in the Dhaka Premier League.
‘I want to take part in the last two matches of the Premier League so that it can help me in gaining match fitness,’ Masharfee added.
