Mumba to stay at home

CHEVRONS pace bowler Carl Mumba is set to go undergo surgery to repair a knee that was shattered during the One Day International series away to Sri Lanka in July.

The 22-year-old has been on the sidelines since the historic tour during which Zimbabwe claimed a first ever series win over Sri Lanka.

Zimbabwe cricket team physiotherapist Anesu Mupotaringa said Mumba could be out for over three months, ruling him out of next week’s two Tests against West Indies in Bulawayo.

“He is going to go under knee arthroscopic surgery for the ligament reconstruction repair . . . which will be followed by full rehabilitation.

“His comeback will depend on the outcome of the surgery but we are looking at least eight to 12 weeks of rehab and thereafter a return to cricket specifics but many factors will determine progression,” he said.

Mupotaringa revealed that Mumba encountered setbacks during his recovery period.

“Carl Mumba sustained a knee injury in Sri Lanka whilst bowling in the ODI game when his right knee sublaxed (partial movement of the joint out of position),” he said.

“From assessment he presented with minimum pain and swelling and as a precautionary measure he was immediately stopped from all cricket activities and had physiotherapy treatment for two weeks which managed to reduce the swelling and the pain.

“Scan at this stage confirmed no internal injury and Carl was then put on a six weeks strengthening programme under Sean Bell, our fitness trainer.

“Carl reported good progress and no discomfort was reported during and after exercises and his comeback looked possible until he sustained another subluxation whilst in the gym doing his usual routine.

“At this stage he stopped any strengthening programme and I referred him to an ortho specialist and another scan was taken and unfortunately this time he had a full thickness ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear and displaced meniscus tear.”

Mumba is part of the Rising Stars, the academy team which spent five months in England and has been added to the domestic league this season.

He made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in October 2016 and has two caps in both the Test and ODI formats.