Thilan Samaraweera, perhaps the most in-form batsman in world cricket until he was shot in the leg when his Sri Lankan team was attacked in Pakistan, said on Thursday he is aiming to return soon and to hit more double centuries.
The 32-year-old Samaraweera was released this week from hospital just over two weeks after the March 3 attack in Lahore which left the batsman struggling to know if his career was over.
"The first five days in the hospital were terrible. I could not move and I did not know what to think," he said in an interview.
But Samaraweera said he was lucky because the bullet went through his hamstring and did not hit any bones or nerves.
Samaraweera was among seven Sri Lankan players and a British assistant coach injured when gunmen attacked the team convoy on its way to Gaddafi Stadium for a Test against Pakistan.
"The last 10 months I was doing very well and then this happened," said Samaraweera, who had the bullet removed from his left thigh after being flown back to Sri Lanka on an emergency flight.
The day before the attack, Samaraweera had notched his second successive Test double century, scoring 214. In the first Test in Karachi, he had made 231.
That made Samaraweera just the seventh batsman after Walter Hammond, Don Bradman, Vinod Kambli, teammate Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith to score successive Test double centuries.
"I hope I can do that again," Samaweera said.
If he recovers in time, his next chance could come against Pakistan, which arrives in July for three Tests. New Zealand then visits Sri Lanka in late August.
The immediate aim is for Samaraweera to undergo rehabilitation for about a month and then start cycling and gym work. He hopes to start light batting in early May.
Samaraweera said being home with his 3-year-old and 8-year-old daughters was also great therapy.
A Pakistani umpire who was shot during the attack is still in a Lahore hospital recovering from his wounds.
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