Al Hashmi confident he’ll return October

Denzil Pinto 08:08 05/08/2015
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  • Pulling together: Fahad Al Hashmi is optimistic he’ll be fit by the end of October.

    UAE international Fahad Al Hashmi expects to be fully fit by the end of October as he resumes his recovery after being injured during the World Cup.

    The 33-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament on his right knee during his team’s 146-run defeat to South Africa in March, resulting him to miss the remainder of the World Cup.

    The fast-medium pacer underwent surgery successfully in Bangkok in April, and the Emirati hasn’t given up hope of representing the UAE before the end of the year.

    “It’s been a long road but I still can’t play right now,” said the Farooq CC player. “I can walk fast but I can’t do anything else. I’m still doing physiotherapy and I will start jogging by the end of September and hopefully I will be fit and ready by the end of October.”

    If all goes to plan he could make his international comeback against an England XI team in their Twenty20 friendly on November 23 in Abu Dhabi.

    UAE suffered five defeats in six games in the World Twenty20 qualifiers last month.

    “I still haven’t given up hope of playing for the UAE. I think I can play for them for another two years as I feel I still have a lot to offer.”

    After some impressive displays in the domestic circuit, Al Hashmi ended his international exile in the Afghanistan ODI series in Dubai in November. He didn’t disappoint, taking four wickets in two games to help the UAE win the series 3-2.

    It was that form that took him to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and despite not taking a wicket, he looks back at the showpiece event with mixed emotions.

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    “Obviously it was disappointing to get an injury at the World Cup especially as it ended my tournament there,” he said. “But it was a great honour to play for the UAE especially in a World Cup as that was something that I dreamt of when I was very young.”

    During his enforced lay-off, the UAE competed in the World Twenty20 qualifiers for next year’s edition in India. But they missed out on sealing a place in one of the four qualification berths, losing five out of their six games in Scotland as they suffered a first-round exit.

    Al Hashmi admitted it was hard sitting at home, having to watch his team-mates on television, especially in a format which he loves.

    “I’m not going to lie I’m missing cricket a lot,” he said. “If I was not  injured, I could’ve been playing with them."

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