Pacers will have to be more careful than others during their comeback: Irfan Pathan

The Covid-19 pandemic brought about an immediate halt in international cricket. Most of the Indian cricketers have remained stucked at their homes and not been able to practise since March due to the countrywide lockdown.

However, after months of staying indoors, players were finally allowed to practice outdoors to work on their fitness. Infact, International cricket also made its return last week with the three-match Test series between West Indies and England.

Meanwhile, the boards across the world are contemplating return to cricket, the major concern will be fitness of fast bowlers and their injury management.

Irfan has also raised the same concern and said that the pacers will need at least four to six weeks to get back into rhythm when they return to action.

''To be honest, I am really worried about the fast bowlers.Going forward, they might need 4-6 weeks to get going themselves. It’s a tough job and if you are bowling 140-150 kmph, running about 25 yards to bowl one ball at a time and then keep bowling for a few overs,'' said Pathan on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.

''Your body gets stiff, injury management will be key as well because I think for any fast bowler to get back into the rhythm, it takes at least 4-6 weeks, so I think fast bowlers will have to be a little more careful than the spinners or the batsmen,'' he added.

Cricketers who have resumed individual training are Shardul Thakur, Rishabh Pant, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma.