Srinagar: Pakistan Ihsanullah who has been struggling with injuries has contradicted Multan Sultans’ owner Ali Jahangir Tareen’s claim that the pacer will never be able to bowl the same way despite undergoing surgery on his right elbow
Ali, during a recent interview claimed that Ihsanullah, who used to bowl at 150 kmph, will never be able to bowl the same way due to his ‘botched’ surgery.
“It is a very sad development but we got Ihsanullah consulted with a top surgeon, who gave us a really bad news, saying that ‘guys, I can do the surgery but no matter what I do, there is so much scaring from his previously botched surgery that his arm will never become perfectly straight and he will never be able to bowl in the same way because he does not have a straight arm’. So, it is so unfortunate that one person ruined a player’s career to hide his mistake,” said Ali.
“That’s why even now, he was bowling in domestic at 130-135, which is a high pace but he was our 155 [kmph] bowler,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ihsanullah, in an interview with a local sports news outlet, has contradicted former Tareen’s claim, stating it is not a big deal for him to breach the 150 kmph barrier again.
“I am bowling at 142 kmph, [bowling at] 150 kmph is no big deal for me,” said Ihansullah.
“Whether my elbow is straight or bends, does not matter. If you have the determination, you can bowl at 150. I’ll comfortably reach 150, and bowling beyond that is nothing for me.
“In a month, I’ll consistently bowl at 150. I’ll do it and make others watch in awe. Currently the speed guns are showing 5 kmph less. So, you can say that I’m bowling at 147.”
Meanwhile Ihsanullah recently made his return to the competitive cricket during the Champions T20 Cup and picked up two wickets in four matches.
The right-arm pacer had been out of action since featuring in the home ODI series against New Zealand in April 2023 due to an elbow injury.
He has played one ODI and four T20Is over the course of his brief career for the Pakistan cricket team.