Razzaq faces race against time to be fit

'I am feeling very weak at the moment' - Abdul Razzaq © Getty Images

Abdul Razzaq, Pakistan's experienced allrounder, faces a race against time to be fit and available for the first Test against India from January 13, after being hospitalised with a severe chest infection in Lahore. Razzaq, who has played 37 Tests and 201 One-day Internationals, was taken to hospital after running high fever and severe coughing bouts which were diagnosed to be due to a chest infection.

"Doctors say that the recovery process is going to be slow because the infection is severe and will take time to be eliminated. I am feeling very weak at the moment and really don't know when I will be able to resume full training and playing cricket again," Razzaq said on Wednesday.

Razzaq has been a key member of the Pakistan Test and one-day squads for the last two years and recently also missed the Test series against England due to an elbow injury, the cause of which was found to be a damaged tissue in his hand.

He recovered in time to play in all five One-day Internationals against the England side. "I am very disappointed because I am looking forward to the Indian series and the training camp also starts from January 6. I don't know if I would be able to join the camp or how long it will take for me to make a complete recovery," he said.

Razzaq said he was hoping to be fit for the first Test in Lahore but would act only on doctors advice. Another allrounder Shoaib Malik has also undergone surgery on his heels five days back to remove painful corns, which caused him a lot of problems during the series against England. Malik who opened against England has however been told by his doctors he can resume training in a week's time.