Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Ali is all set to make his comeback to the international arena with the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which will begin on August 21 in Rawalpindi.

Mohammad Ali made his Test debut against England in December 2022 and played two matches. Following the England Test series, where he picked up four wickets in two games, Ali was dropped from the Pakistan cricket team but managed to regain his place in the team thanks to his impressive domestic performance.

Mohammad Ali set to return to Pakistan for Bangladesh Tests

Mohammad Ali is expected to play in the first Test against Bangladesh. Ahead of his return, the 31-year-old spoke about his experience and the setbacks and comebacks. After facing numerous setbacks and rejections throughout his career, Ali took some time to re-evaluate and focus on domestic cricket.

His dedication to improving his game, both in training and in domestic matches, eventually enabled him to make a successful comeback to the national team. The Pakistani player has stressed the importance of treating every match with utmost seriousness, be it a domestic fixture or a high-profile tournament like the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Ali stressed how crucial it was to approach every opportunity with the same intensity and commitment. Ali also revealed that he made significant adjustments to his throwing technique, including perfecting his wrist position and correcting hyperextension issues that had caused him back problems.

Comebacks are always difficult and challenging: Pakistani player Mohammad Ali

Mohammad Ali said in a video posted by PCB on X: “Comebacks are always tough and challenging. Obviously, you have to start from scratch and perform again. In fact, it wasn’t that difficult for me because I have seen so many failures and rejections in my life. I accepted it wholeheartedly and accepted that maybe I wasn’t ready for this stage.

Since I couldn’t play well there, I was dropped. After that, I went to play domestic cricket. Every match was equally important and I tried to play in every match. And the result is in front of you. I got the chance again. There can be nothing better and happier than this.”

Ali said playing for Pakistan comes with an added responsibility as players have to prove why they represent the country at the highest level. Ali described this as his outlook and school of thought and said he gave importance to every match in domestic cricket and PSL.

I improved my wrist position and hyperextension – Mohammad Ali

The pacer stressed that he played in every game with the same intensity, attitude, commitment and dedication, and said that his season was tough and important for him. Ali said that he worked very hard and changed many things in his behavior.

Ali concluded by saying, “Thanks to the modifications, I benefited a lot. I was the best on the team for four consecutive years. At that time, I used to have hyperextension. My hand would go backwards a lot. Because of this, I used to have back problems. So, I worked on that. I improved that hyperextension.

“There are other little things like that. I improved my wrist position. I improved my circle. A lot of people may not understand the rotation of the throwing arm. I worked hard on that. This process continued during the season and off-season. At first, my family was never supportive.”

The focus on national performances helped him earn a national reputation 🏏

🗣️ Mohammad Ali prepares for his return to testing 💪#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/YRAEgYpFVX

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 10, 2024