Cricketer Shoaib Akhtar's two recent videos, which he has shared on Instagram last week, has generated concern among his fans and followers. In the videos, the cricketer has talked about his knee surgery and has also updated his followers about the same after surgery was done.
"Surgery time need lots of prayers !!," he captioned one of the two videos on Saturday and "Alhamdolillah, surgery went well. It will take some time to recover. Need your prayers," he shared the next day after the surgery.
Currently, he is in Melbourne.
Shoaib Akhtar’s knee injury
Fondly known as Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar is a former fast bowler of the Pakistani cricket team. He underwent a partial knee replacement in Melbourne, Australia.
“I hope this is my last surgery because I am in pain. I could have played 4 or 5 more years, but I knew if I did, I would end up in a wheelchair, so I said goodbye to cricket," he said in the video.
This is not the first time the cricketer has talked about his knee injury.
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In December 2021, he shared a video where he is seen taking painkiller injections as his knee operation was delayed by two months. "The pain i took for playing for Pakistan. But I'd do it all over again if given another chance. Since there's a two month delay in my operation, this is what i had to resort to," he had tweeted along with the video. Few years before, he had knee reconstruction surgery.
Though he had a glorious career in cricket, his career was cut short due to the multiple injuries he suffered from.
Knee injury in cricketers
Cricketers suffer a number of health issues while playing. The most common types of injuries are strains, sprains, fractures and open wounds.
Bowlers are prone to knee injury because during the delivery phase of the bowling movement the knee joint suffers a high impact. The patella tendon is affected the most in the players. Due to the pace of the movement and the motion, the muscles around the knee joint area have a higher risk of being affected.
Shoaib Akhtar's initial diagnostic X-ray report reveals that his upper leg bone or femur was grinding his tibia, the lower leg bones.
Sharing the X-ray report in 2016, he had tweeted: "I bowled with those knees 4last20 years and now look it my left knee it's grinding the other part of my knee. Crazy.."
Cricketers are also prone to ankle and foot injury like a lateral ankle sprain. This is very commonly seen in bowlers, batsmen and fielders.
How can players avert the risk of knee injury?
Incorporating strength and flexibility training can prevent the risk of knee injury in players. One should practice workouts emphasizing on knee strengthening, strengthening of hip, arm and core under the able guidance of experts.
Budding cricketers should focus on the proper technique of playing, wear the proper shoes and work on the strength abilities to prevent the risk of injury and aim for a long career.
