For Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, the prospect of an international return against India in September ended in heartbreak. Just 20 minutes before the toss in Delhi, the pacer felt a familiar flare-up in his right shoulder, forcing him to withdraw from the opening T20I of the three-match series. The setback was particularly devastating, as it came after nine months of dedicated rehabilitation and nearly two years since he last represented his country. You work so hard, you come out of all these hardships, rehab, and loneliness, and then just 20 minutes before the toss, you get this setback again, you have so much patience. So I withdrew,” he added, i felt something (in my shoulder). According to suddenly an injury comes and then you are either in the gym or with the physio,”, Naveen. It’s your peak time, and then you can just hang up your boots and say that’s it, that’s my time,” he said, till 34 to 35. It is what it is now and I can’t just sit at home and feel sorry for myself. I was a bit down initially when I spoke to him.
Naveen described the experience as shattering, noting the toll of spending months in isolation, focused solely on fitness, only to face a recurrence moments before the match.
He explained that his decision to withdraw was a necessary precaution rather than a risk, acknowledging that he felt the pain flare up just in time to prevent further damage. “It’s tough, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. “I didn’t play because I didn’t want to take a risk.
The pacer has been sidelined from professional cricket since December 2025, a period defined by a complex recovery process involving a stress injury, the T20 World Cup exclusion, and a second surgery to repair his labrum and tighten the shoulder capsule.
Despite the frustration, Naveen expressed a grounded acceptance of the lifestyle he chose. He recognized that injuries, surgeries, and long recovery periods are often part of the reality for fast bowlers at the highest level. Rather than dwelling on the disappointment or seeking sympathy, he insists on moving forward with a professional perspective. He believes the glamour of global leagues is inextricably linked to the physical sacrifices required of a modern athlete. Miss the World Cup, Asia Cup and all that stuff, it’s part and parcel of being a professional cricketer so you have to accept it and be mentally prepared that you might miss different leagues.
A turning point in his outlook came during a conversation with Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir following the conclusion of the third T20I. Having worked together previously at the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, Naveen opened up to Gambhir about his mental fatigue and the difficulty of repeated setbacks. That 20-25 minute discussion proved instrumental in changing his perspective, helping him stop dwelling on the negatives and refocus on the rebuilding process. There is no point in looking back and feeling sorry. “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, currently 27, remains optimistic about his future, believing he has roughly seven to eight years of peak performance left.
He plans to maximize this window by ensuring he is fully prepared before returning to the field. He has avoided setting a specific timeline for his comeback, aiming instead for 100 to 120 percent assurance regarding his physical fitness. His goal is to avoid any doubt surrounding his shoulder stability, ensuring he can bowl with full match intensity whenever he decides to return to international or league competition.
Regarding his position in the national squad, Naveen is taking a measured approach. He is confident in his established skill set and past performances, noting that he feels no immediate pressure to prove himself to anyone. If he is not selected for a team, he views the wider world of league cricket as a sufficient platform to demonstrate his capabilities once he has successfully completed his recovery. For him, the process is about long-term sustainability rather than rushing into a return that could lead to further health complications.
Ultimately, the experienced bowler sees his situation as part of the inherent ups and downs of an athlete’s life. He has chosen to remain level-headed, balancing the reality of his current struggles with the necessity of hard work. By focusing on his strength and rehabilitation work without external timelines, Naveen hopes to move past this challenging phase and return to the game on his own terms, fully recovered and ready to perform at the highest level.
