Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has opened up about a conversation with India head coach Gautam Gambhir during a difficult phase in his career. A recurrence of his right shoulder injury, just 20 minutes before the opening T20I against India in September, left him devastated after months of rehabilitation.
Naveen had been working towards an international comeback after being away from cricket since December 2025. He was initially ruled out of the T20 World Cup, and although the bone healed within 10 weeks, subsequent labrum repair surgery to tighten his shoulder capsule extended his recovery.
After the third T20I against India, Naveen-ul-Haq sat alone on the ground. Gambhir, who had coached him at Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, approached the fast bowler and asked why he had missed the match. Naveen said their 20–25-minute conversation helped him cope with the setback.
“After the third T20 against India, I was on the ground sitting alone. I spoke to GG (Gautam Gambhir) Sir about it (injury) after he asked me what had happened and why I didn't play. GG bhai was our coach in Lucknow in the IPL, and to be really honest, it helped me quite a lot to have that 20-25 minutes of chat with him," Naveen told Cricbuzz.
"I opened up to him about my thinking at that point and how it was affecting me, of coming back after nine months and then suddenly getting injured again. That chat helped me to not dwell on my problems and feel sorry for myself.”
“The conversation was about cricket, and it was a bit about how I was going through this challenging phase. I was a bit down initially when I spoke to him. That chat changed my perspective of how to rebuild again and go again.”
Naveen-ul-Haq Trusts His Skills And Won’t Rush His Comeback
Naveen-ul-Haq said that he was focusing on recovery rather than worrying about his place in Afghanistan’s playing XI. The fast bowler continues to trust his abilities and past performances and does not feel the need to prove himself when he returns to competitive cricket.
“To be honest, these things are not coming to my mind - like what I have to do when I join the Afghanistan team and whether I will have a place in the XI or not, or how the comeback will be. I trust my skills, I know what I am capable of, everyone knows what level of cricket I have played and what my skill set is and what my past performances are. For me, it doesn't matter if I come and prove myself to someone."
"I will give my all in my rehab and my rebuilding. Even if I am not picked, it is not the end of the world for me. There are lots of different opportunities in league cricket where you can show yourself again. I believe in my skill and I know when I am fully fit and bowling those four overs with that match intensity, there will be no team where I will doubt myself.”
Naveen-ul-Haq Sets Fitness Goals Instead Of A Return Date
Naveen-ul-Haq has avoided setting a fixed date for his comeback and is concentrating on rehabilitation, strength work and rebuilding his bowling workload. He wants complete confidence in his repaired shoulder before returning to international or franchise cricket.
“I haven't set any targets for myself. I will continue my rehab, strength work, and build-up again. I haven't set any timeline as I don't want to put pressure on myself that."
"This time, if I have to come back to cricket, international cricket or league cricket, I need to have 100-120 percent assurance on my fitness, on my shoulder. Only then will I make a comeback so that I don't have to hear anyone say, 'What's his fitness level? Will his shoulder pop out or not?' I want to get this done and over with and then make a comeback."
“Life has taught me that one day you will have a great game, and the second day you will have a very bad game. So you have to keep yourself level-headed. That's what life has taught me - here are going to be ups and downs.”
Also read: Watch: Gary Kirsten visibly furious after Dasun Shanaka’s dismissal against Pakistan, video viral
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