Left arm medium fast bowler Sohail Tanvir has faced a long and at times lonely road to recovery from a serious knee injury. It's a journey that at times he thought he would not be able to complete.

 by Saj Sadiq

3 December 2010

Left arm medium fast bowler Sohail Tanvir has faced a long and at times lonely road to recovery from his serious knee injury. It is a journey that at times he thought he would not be able to complete. However speaking to PakPassion.net ; Tanvir spoke of his relief at seeing his name listed in both the Test and Twenty20 squads for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand.

"It's been a very tough journey and I've had to put in a tremendous amount of hard work to recover from the knee injury," stated the 25 year old winner of the inaugural Player of the Tournament award at the Indian Premier League.

"It's been nearly 8 months of pain, recovery, rehabilitation, setbacks and then finally the relief of receiving the go ahead to resume my career. At times it's been a very lonely journey and difficult experience. Recovering from this serious injury has been a huge relief for me." 

Tanvir had been ruled out of cricket after undergoing surgery on his knee in Australia. The knee injury curtailed Tanvir's international career and also resulted in him pulling out of a contract with Victoria during last year's Australian domestic season.

"I went to Australia for a career saving surgery on my left knee. However, even after the surgery and during the rehabilitation process, at one stage I thought my cricket career was over. I was on crutches for 2 months after the operation and I couldn't even walk, so playing cricket was far from my mind. If you can't even walk, then playing cricket is a distant thought. I really thought it was the end of the road for me as the knee was not responding to further treatment. It was a very difficult time for me, but I never gave up, I never wanted to throw in the towel and let the injury get the better of me."

Tanvir has made a full recovery and has taken 18 wickets in three Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, at an average of just over 26 and is comfortable with his levels of fitness and his current form.

"I'm feeling fully fit and happy with my form. I feel I've been bowling well and am confident that I can do well in New Zealand. It was important to start playing first class cricket and take some wickets. I'm hopeful that the good domestic form can continue in international cricket."

Tanvir - who started out as a left arm spinner, before reverting to left arm medium pace bowling - last represented Pakistan in November 2009 in a Twenty20 international in Dubai against New Zealand. He thinks that after such a long break from international cricket, it will feel as if he is making his debut once again.

"It's going to be a strange feeling. It will probably feel as if I am making my debut once again. But I'm overjoyed at the thought of playing for my country once again."

Tanvir - who has represented Pakistan on 48 occasions - was selected for the recent series versus South Africa in the UAE, providing he could prove his fitness. However he was not included in the final touring party and explained to PakPassion.net that the decision not to travel to the UAE was taken after advice from the medical staff.

"The medics advised me not to play in the series in UAE, as the wickets were not going to be bowler friendly and they suggested that I would be better served continuing my comeback in first class cricket and then playing in the more bowler friendly conditions in New Zealand. I wasn't going to argue with the doctors and took their advice on board and decided to carry on playing in domestic cricket."