December 13, 2007	Thursday	Zilhaj 2, 1428

KARACHI, Dec 12: Pakistan’s injured fast bowler Umar Gul, who was ruled out of the Indian tour with a back problem, is confident of making a comeback to bowling in the first week of January.

Gul, who travelled to India with the team, complained of a back problem soon after the one-day series which was finally diagnosed as a muscle spasm by the authorities.

“I have rested a lot and I feel okay now. But I have not bowled for a while and the board has asked me to appear for a fitness check-up tomorrow in Lahore before the PCB medical panel,” he said on Wednesday.

“I am looking forward to resuming bowling by the first week of next month, provided everything goes well. I know it is not a serious injury nor a recurrence of the back stress fracture I had two years ago,” he said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Operating Officer (COO), Shafqat Naghmi said it was premature to speculate on Gul’s condition but he had been told to take a week’s rest before his check-up. “We are confident it is nothing serious but we are prepared for any eventuality. We are facing frequent fitness problems with our main bowlers and we want to ensure they don’t suffer long term injuries,” Naghmi said.

The board has already sent pacer Mohammad Asif to Australia for surgery on his elbow and the pacer is expected to be out of action for another three months.

Gul said niggling injuries to pace bowlers were very common these days due to hectic international commitments. “You can’t escape from them despite the improved fitness programmes we follow these days and the training regimens we go through.”

Gul said he was very disappointed to not play in the Tests in India after bowling well in the one-dayers. “I would have loved to make a difference in the team. It was disappointing to lose the series on the basis of just one match,” he said.—Agencies