Stents, courage, runs accompany Pakistan's Abid Ali on comeback trail

Abid Ali as the Pakistan opener began his comeback trail in competitive cricket four months after suffering a heart attack. Abid, 34, had undergone an angioplasty a day after he was rushed to a hospital for chest pain while playing a match in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in Karachi last December. On Thursday, he appeared in a T20 league match in Faisalabad and scored a half- century.

Speaking to reporters, he expressed his relief at being able to bat in a competitive game after such a long time. "I am feeling really good but this is just the start of my comeback trail. Need to work very hard to get back into the national team," Abid said.

A late bloomer, the opener had just returned from a tour of Bangladesh with the Pakistan team when he suffered the heart attack. "After I was told about the heart condition I just fell into depression and I just kept on thinking whether I will be able to play cricket again," he recalled the tough times. Abid said the team of professionals which worked with him and his family had stood by him and backed him to start feeling confident about himself again.

"To me it is just like getting a new life from Allah Talah. I just want to make the most of this opportunity because cricket is my life," he added. Abid had to undergo an extensive rehabilitation programme and wait for months to get clearance from doctors to play again.