Mohammad Hafeez: “I am optimistic to start my activities by the mid of April and hope that I [will] represent Pakistan in the World Cup”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is confident that he will be fit for the World Cup next month after he underwent a second surgery on his fractured thumb.

Hafeez had the surgical procedure done in Manchester last week and is now on the road to recovery.

With the quadrennial event beginning on May 30 and Pakistan set to hold a fitness test for the World Cup hopefuls on April 14, Hafeez is hoping to start training by the middle of this month.

“I am hopeful that very soon I would restart my international career… I am optimistic to start my activities by the mid of April and hope that I [will] represent Pakistan in the World Cup,” he was quoted as saying by the Business Recorder.

Hafeez doesn’t want to find himself in the same position as he did four years ago, where he was forced to miss the 2015 World Cup due to a calf injury.

“It was very disappointing and unfortunate that I was not able to play the 2015 World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand. I still miss that, but I believe one needs to be thankful for the opportunities he gets,” the 38-year-old said.

Hafeez fractured his thumb when attempting to take a catch off his own bowling while representing the Lahore Qalandars against the Karachi Kings in the fifth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

With scans revealing the fracture and Hafeez having to undergo surgery, he was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.