Published: Oct 28, 2019, 10:50 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 28, 2019, 10:50 PM (IST)
England leg-spinner Adil Rashid on Monday revealed how a visit to earthquake-hit Kashmir helped him rediscover his perspective after a shoulder injury almost ruled him out of the World Cup.
Rashid, part of England’s touring squad in New Zealand, pocketed two wickets against New Zealand Cricket XI in the first warm-up match. He admitted that had he not taken a pair of steroid injections before the World Cup, he would have missed the tournament altogether.
His rehabilitation period then included a trip to his parents’ birthplace in Kashmir following a devastating earthquake on September 24 that killed 40 and injured another 850.
“There was a lot of destruction and at the time I was doing my rehab, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to go and see what had happened, how bad the damage was and for me to give a helping hand,” Rashid was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.
“It does put things in perspective. That’s life and death. Our problems are playing a game we enjoy. For me to hear about the news was upsetting, as it’s a place close to my heart. I’m sure it was upsetting for a lot of people from a Pakistani Kashmir background.”
READ: England’s World Cup-winner Adil Rashid ruled out of entire season due to shoulder injury
In Kashmir, he assisted Birmingham-based charity Islamic Relief. “I helped them hand out kit and went round seeing the areas that were damaged.”
It’s not been the best of years for Rashid, who finished the ICC World Cup 2019, with 11 wickets at a modest 47. “Even if my shoulder was falling off, I’d have been keen to play. I had to find a way. If I didn’t take the injection, I don’t reckon I would have played a part because it was actually that bad,” he said.
Rashid is still not at his 100 per cent with rumours from the England camp suggesting that he he is still operating at only 85 per cent. “I’ve still not quite got my snap that I would like. Hopefully that will come as time goes on – maybe before the first T20,” he said.
England will play their their second and final warm-up game in Lincoln on Tuesday. The first of the five-match Twenty20 Internationals get underway on Friday at Christchurch.
