UAE medium-pacer Fahad Al Hashmi expects to be fully fit by next month but will consider retiring from international cricket if he can’t force his way back into the national set-up.

Al Hashmi tore his anterior cruciate ligament on his right knee during his team’s 146-run defeat to South Africa in March, resulting in him missing the remainder of the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

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That forced the 33-year-old to undergo surgery in April and he had hoped to be fit by October. But his plans of a return to active cricket in late 2015 was dashed after his physiotherapy appointment was delayed to November.

The Emirati is now resuming his career, playing three games so far for Wings Warriors, and acknowledges he needs “to work really hard” if he wants to be in contention for future national squads.

“Yes, obviously I could retire from international cricket,” replied Al Hashmi, when asked if would consider calling it a day if things don’t work out.

“I’ll try my best and I will work really hard. But if I don’t get selected or be involved in the national team plans by the end of this season, I might retire from international cricket.”

He added: “Obviously, it depends on the selectors and I need to be match fit but let’s see what the future holds. In terms of my recovery, it’s been going well. I’ve been training my muscles in the gym and just doing net sessions.

“I’m not fully fit and still on the mend but I’m just looking forward to getting back on the field fully fit and show everyone what I can do. I should be fully fit by February.”

Al Hashmi is no stranger to forcing his way back to the national team. In 2014, he ended his four-year international exile to be named in the home ODI series against Afghanistan. And he repaid the faith shown by UAE coach Aaqib Javed, taking four wickets in two games to help his team seal a 3-2 series triumph.

With Javed bringing in new faces after the team’s failure to qualify for March’s World Twenty20, Al Hashmi acknowledges it’s a different scenario to what he faced in 2014 but still feels he has a lot to offer.

“Hopefully I can do well when I return and be given a chance to play again and prove that I’m worthy of a place in the national squad.”