Abid Ali, a Pakistan cricketer, who had angioplasty in December of last year, has begun his recovery at the National High-Performance Centre in Lahore (NHPC). The medical staff of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is analysing the batter’s condition.
Ali described how he felt nervous when batting in a Quaid-e-Azam match in a video published by the PCB on their social media accounts. As the pain became more intense, the 34-year-old said he had to get off the ground.
“I started to feel uneasiness during my innings in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match. I got a bit worried, and then I felt pain. When the pain intensified, I did some running and spoke to my partner, Azhar Ali, whether I should speak to the umpires. Then I spoke to the umpires and they allowed me to leave the ground,” Abid Ali said.
The 34-year-old is on his way back to cricket and is progressing quickly under the watchful eye of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) medical experts.
The PCB’s medical staff has devised a rehabilitation plan for Abid in order to assist him in his comeback to the game. Abid said in an interview with PCB Digital that he will return to cricket as soon as possible.
Abid was diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome after complaining of chest pain while batting for Central Punjab versus Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match. He was brought to a local hospital by the team doctor and underwent angioplasty.
“While walking off the ground, I felt more uneasiness as I reached the rope and started to vomit and feel dizzy. The team physio and doctor Asad ran towards me. They took off my pads and rushed me in an emergency to a hospital. I thought this is just normal gas or muscular pain. The doctors conducted ECG, which did not come out fine. Doctors told me that a valve of my heart was blocked and they will have to put two stents,” Ali added.
Doctors were taken aback when Ali discovered that his heart was barely operating at 30%, compared to a typical person’s heart rate of 55%.
“The doctors were stunned by how I was able to even walk as my heart was operating at 30 per cent. The heart of a normal person or athlete operates at 55 per cent,” Ali said.
Abid Ali, who has represented Pakistan in 16 Tests and six One-Day Internationals, is eager to return after finishing his recovery. His last international appearance was against Bangladesh in December 2021.
The gifted hitter also stated that he intends to return to training as soon as possible. Ali stated that cricket is an important part of his life and that he has no intentions to retire from it.
“When I reached home after two weeks, everyone was very happy. Doctors had prepared a rehab plan for me. God willing, I will try to hold my bat as early as I can and start training. Cricket is my life. It is a priceless aspect of my life that I don’t want to leave. I am trying to return to cricket as soon as I can.”
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