Trinidad pacer targets international return

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC-West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul has his sights on the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe to launch his return to international cricket after being sidelined with injury.

Rampaul, who was out of action for two months due to knee troubles, has said he is 100 percent fit again.

He hopes to impress West Indies selectors when Trinidad & Tobago take on Windward Islands in their opening first-class game of the season tomorrow.

“I am trying to give it all for my country, trying to get back to playing cricket and easing my way back into bowling,” said Rampaul in an interview with the Express.

“Hopefully I pick up some wickets and get back on the West Indies team for the Zimbabwe tour.”

The Trinidadian pacer was forced to skip January’s Caribbean T20 following an MRI that revealed an issue with his knee.

T&T successfully defended their T20 title to complete a hat trick of tournament wins.

Rampaul said the rest also allowed him to recover fully from a groin injury he picked up during West Indies’ tour to Bangladesh in November-December.

“Basically my knee was giving me some problems and then I had a groin injury coming out of the Bangladesh tour, those were the two injuries that were bothering me a bit. But both are healed 100% now, so that is a positive for me” said Rampaul.

“I have been doing some work with trainer Ronald Rogers. We have been doing a lot of training and a lot of weight training. I just want to continue working hard”.

Rampaul is set to participate in the IPL in April after he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for US$290,000 at the 2013 auction earlier this month.