For Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, the path back to the international stage has been marked by physical hardship and long periods of isolation.
In September, during a three-match series in Delhi, the 27-year-old found himself in a devastating position when a recurring shoulder injury flared up just 20 minutes before the toss for the opening T20I against India. 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). “The important thing for me is that I am 27, and I have seven to eight more years of cricket left in me that I can play at the highest level.
Having spent nine months diligently working through rehabilitation, the sudden setback served as a painful reminder of the volatility inherent in a professional fast bowler’s life.
Reflecting on that moment, Naveen described the experience as shattering. After two years away from the Afghanistan national side, the anticipation of his return had been immense. However, prioritizing his long-term health, he decided to withdraw from the series rather than risk further damage. He acknowledges that injuries, surgeries, and extensive recovery programs are unavoidable realities for those in his position, noting that few, if any, pace bowlers escape such challenges during their careers. “I didn’t play because I didn’t want to take a risk.
The pacer’s medical journey has been extensive. Since December 2025, when he last played professional cricket, he has grappled with a stress injury in his right shoulder that forced him to miss the T20 World Cup. While a stress fracture healed within eight to ten weeks, complications led to a second surgery for labrum repair to tighten the shoulder capsule. The transition from the high-intensity travel and glamour of league cricket to the solitary confinement of gyms and physiotherapy sessions has been a difficult adjustment.
Seeking counsel during this period, Naveen turned to former mentor and current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, with whom he previously worked during his IPL tenure with Lucknow. A 25-minute conversation with Gambhir following the third T20I against India proved pivotal. Naveen shared his frustrations about the cycle of recovery and reinjury, and he credits the discussion with helping him move past his self-pity and gain a more constructive perspective on his professional future. “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. “The conversation was about cricket, and it was a bit about how I was going through this challenging phase.
Looking ahead, the cricketer remains committed to his rehabilitation without imposing artificial deadlines. He emphasized that he is not focused on proving himself to critics or worrying about his spot in the national XI. Instead, his goal is to return only when he has 100 to 120 percent assurance regarding his shoulder’s stability. He intends to avoid any premature comeback that might lead to further questions about his fitness or durability. There is no point in looking back and feeling sorry. “I was traveling all day, either playing for the national team or getting free from there and playing in different leagues. Naveen is not in a hurry to prove anything and isn’t in a rush to make a comeback.
Naveen remains optimistic about his remaining years in the sport, targeting an peak performance window that extends until he is 34 or 35 years old. 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.
He views the current struggle as a necessary part of a professional athlete’s life. Rather than wallowing in what might have been, he is focused on consistent strength work and physical conditioning. He maintains full confidence in his skill set and believes that once his match intensity returns, he will be an asset to any side, whether in international competition or various league circuits. “It’s tough, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. One cannot show sympathy or feel sorry for what is happening to me, at the end of the day. There will be no team where I will doubt myself,” he said, i believe in my skill and I know when I am fully fit and bowling those four overs with that match intensity. I haven’t set any timeline as I don’t want to put pressure on myself that.
Ultimately, Naveen has embraced the unpredictable nature of his career. He acknowledges that success and failure are fleeting experiences, and he has learned the importance of maintaining a level-headed approach toward the inevitable ups and downs of professional sports. His current objective is simple: to complete his recovery, regain his rhythm, and return to the game on his own terms.
