Bangladesh fast bowler Ebadot Hossain is looking forward to returning to the field after over a year of absence due to a knee injury.

Although he had aimed for a comeback during Bangladesh’s upcoming series against India, his full recovery has taken longer than expected. Ebadot, who underwent surgery last August, is currently bowling at 70-80 percent and is still awaiting clearance for full-intensity bowling.

As a result, the chances of Ebadot playing in the India series are slim. However, speaking to the media on Friday, the fast bowler hinted that he might travel to India with the team. "I’m following the plan laid out by the physio, trainer, and fast bowling coach. I haven’t yet received permission to bowl at full capacity. I’m bowling at about 70-80 percent at the moment,” he said.

"Maybe I’ll travel with the team to India. I’ll get bowling support there, along with assistance from doctors, physios, and trainers. I’ll be under team supervision, and that’s why they may take me. Once there, they’ll assess my fitness, and based on that, they’ll make a decision."

Had Ebadot not been injured during the ODI series against Afghanistan last July, he could have been one of Bangladesh’s key assets in the pace department, including in the two World Cups over the last 13 months. Despite his absence, Bangladesh’s pace attack rattled Pakistan during the recent series.

Watching this from the sidelines fills Ebadot with pride, but he also laments missing out on such a historic achievement. "Of course, it’s disappointing. It’s been nearly 13 months since I last played. I suffered an injury that has taken a long time to heal. It’s frustrating, without a doubt. As a player, staying out of the game is very painful. I don’t think it’ll take much longer now. Insha’Allah, I’ll be back and try to perform well,” Ebadot added.

With slim chances of featuring in the India series, Ebadot is considering a return through domestic cricket. He is expected to don the Sylhet jersey in the National Cricket League (NCL), set to start on October 15. "I’m eager to play. But for that, I need to regain full fitness. If my fitness improves to the management’s satisfaction, and they decide to play me in India, I’ll play. If not, there’s always domestic cricket, and I’ll play there,” Ebadot concluded.