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Munaf on road to recovery

Special Correspondent

— PHOTO: PTI

Munaf Patel.

Chennai: India paceman Munaf Patel believes his recovery from a back strain is on track. The lanky 23-year-old bowler says he should be fit for selection for the seven-match ODI series in England, beginning on August 21.

“I had not even started bowling when the Indian squad for the Test series in England was announced. So, I was not disappointed when I did not see my name. Now, I am bowling at around 85 per cent of my speed, from an almost full run-up. I am getting there,” Munaf told presspersons at the MRF Pace Foundation here on Thursday.

Philosophical

Munaf had to return home during India’s tour of Bangladesh this year when his injury was detected. “You cannot fight fate and destiny. I have learnt to take these things in my stride. Injuries are part and parcel of a fast bowler’s career,” he says.

The paceman is under an injury rehabilitation programme under Aussie pace legend Dennis Lillee and former India paceman T.A. Sekar at the MRF Pace Foundation.

Former Indian pace spearhead Javagal Srinath has also been offering tips to Munaf during the last two days.

“The Pace Foundation is like my second home. I have been coming here for the last five years,” says Munaf.

Despite the injury setback, Munaf is full of beans - “I want to bowl fast again, want to follow my instinct.” He quickly adds, “Speed with line and length.”

Creditable record

Munaf’s record for India is creditable. He has 25 wickets in seven Tests at 29.00. In 22 ODIs, he has 26 scalps at an economy rate of 4.54. He and S. Sreesanth combined well in India’s 1-0 Test series triumph in the West Indies, in 2006. Zaheer Khan was not a part of that series, but Munaf says, the senior left-arm paceman has never been short of encouraging words for him.

Apart from strengthening his back, Munaf has been striving to improve his overall fitness. He is undergoing specific drills under fitness trainer Ramji Srinivasan, both at the gym and in the pool. “I am getting stronger,” he reveals.

Asked about the competition for pace bowling slots in the Indian team, he answers, “It’s simple. Whoever does well will be picked.”

On the free hit rule in the ODIs following a front-foot no-ball, Munaf replies, “There is already so much pressure on the bowlers.”

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