Pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will fly to Australia next Saturday for another surgery on his right knee.
The “Narail Express” made his return to international cricket in the home series against Australia last month after injuring his right knee in December last year but never looked hundred percent fit during the three-match series.
“I felt that it’s better to do the operation to prolong my career. Young (Dr. David Young) will first assess the depth of the injury and after that he will give his decision,” said Mashrafe, who was reportedly under pressure to play the series against Australia, yesterday.
“I have no other choice but to go for another surgery if I want to prolong my cricket career. Another operation means I will be sidelined for at least another six to seven months or more,” added frustrated Mashrafe.
“I’m not sure about my future. Let’s see what happen,” he said.
Dr Young last performed surgery on Mashrafe in August 2009 after the fast bowler hurt his right knee during the first Test against the West Indies at St. Vincent a month earlier.
It will be the third operation on the right knee of Mashrafe who has battled numerous injuries throughout his career.
The latest injury happened while taking a run for Abahani, his club, against BKSP, in a Dhaka Premier Division League match in December last year, shattering his World Cup dreams.
Mashrafe took time to opt for another surgery as he was confident about his fitness but his last appearance against Australia made it clear that he has no other choice.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) physician Dr. Debashish Chowdhury informed that it will take time for Mashrafe to regain full fitness this time. According to his timeline, the country’s leading paceman has hardly any chance to make his international return this year.
“Normally it takes four to six months to fully recover from this kind of injury after operation but for Mashrafe the case is altogether a different one because the knee was operated on earlier. I think it will take time, at least seven to eight months,” informed Debashish.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
