Shadab Jakati eyes Champions League return

PANAJI: The future of a spinner is in his own hands, or rather, fingers.
Shadab Jakati had reason to fear the worst when his bowling finger snapped during last year's Champions League T20 cricket and worsened after the Indian Premier League (IPL). But timely intervention, excellent care and possibly perfect surgery at the hands of the world's best finger surgeon in Australia has helped the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) allrounder breathe easy.
"My middle finger was badly damaged. There was major damage to the cartilage and the worst thing was that it was my bowling finger," Jakati told TOI on his return to Goa from Melbourne on Sunday.
Jakati first experienced pain during last year's Champions League. He believed it was a minor irritant until the pain re-occurred during the IPL. Close examination from CSK's Australian physio, Tommy Simsek, suggested an expert hand and, when Jakati was examined in Melbourne by Greg Hoy - whose clients include Ricky Ponting, Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra -- it was discovered that there was "gross destruction of cartilage."
"I was experiencing pain during the IPL but since it was a question of just four overs, I was ok with it. But bowling long spells would have been difficult so we decided it was best to go for surgery ," said Jakati.
Jakati spent three weeks in Melbourne but it will be another six weeks before Jakati can get back into the field - for training that is.
"In four weeks, I will be able to do free mobilization exercises and it will be another two weeks before I start bowling again. I should be ready for cricket in October," said Jakati, whose medical bill was picked up by CSK.
Despite Jakati's understandable eagerness to start bowling again, the CSK allrounder may have to give the Champions League a miss. The T20 tournament will be held in South Africa from October 9 to 28 and it is unlikely that Jakati will win his battle against fitness.
"I think it's 50-50 at the moment," he said. Jakati, though, is more eager to regain full fitness at least by late October, just in time for the Ranji Trophy season. Goa start their campaign in the Ranji Trophy early November and the star cricketer does not want to give any of the eight matches a miss.
All of Goa, and Chennai, should be waiting.