For Amanpreet Singh,life has come full circle. The talented Chandigarh-based fast bowler could have already made it to the national side,but fate had something else up its sleeve. The career of this 6 ft 2 inches tall bowler came to an abrupt halt after he toured South Africa with the Kings XI Punjab during the Indian Premier Leagues last season. Following a headache,Amanpreet was diagnosed with life-threatening Neurocysticercosis (infection in pituitary glands),a disease he picked up after IPL,most likely from the food he ate. The disorder made Amanpreet,who has represented India (under-19) and Punjab in Ranji Trophy,go through the most trying six months of his life. In Neurocysticercosis,blood supply to the brain gets affected,resulting in blackouts. Indian tennis legend Leander Paes suffered from a similar disease in 2003. He was operated upon in the US. Amanpreet also went under the knife twice after coming back to Chandigarh. The surgeries have been successful. But only half the battle has been won. Amanpreet is now looking ahead to get back his fitness and slot in the Punjab side. For now,he thinks the worst is over. It seemed everything would get over. But I was lucky,the surgeries went off well. Now,with ample rest and constant interaction with Kings XI Punjab physiotherapist Patrick Farhat,I am feeling much better and fitter, the 20-year-old told Newsline. For the last two months I have been practising under my coach Bharti Vij. I know how important it is for me to reach the earlier level. My family,especially my brothers,have been motivating me throughout. Punjab had high hopes from Amanpreet. Along with Harmeet Singh,Jaskaran Singh and Siddharth Kaul,he was touted as the future of the teams pace attack. But after making a good Ranji debut in 2006 against Mumbai at the PCA Stadium in Mohali,Amanpreet could feature in just two more games last season. The way I am bowling now has given me hope. The Punjab Cricket Association has been quite supportive. I am working on my body and aiming for a comeback, he says. Coach Bharti Vij,a former left-arm spinner who played for Punjab,echoes Amanpreet: He is a fighter. His body is in shape. He is bowling well and taking wickets. Remember,he picked up four wickets in his debut against Mumbai,and Punjab takes on Mumbai in their first Ranji match in Chandigarh next month. I hope Aman gets a chance once again. Punjab will announce its Ranji team next week. Amanpreet has his fingers crossed. ODI tickets on sale from tomorrow Tickets for the fourth ODI between India and Australia,to be held at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on November 2,will start on October 23. Tickets will be available at branches of the Central Bank of India in sectors 15,17 and 32,Chandigarh,and Sector 10 in Panchkula,from 10 am to 5.00 pm. The Punjab Cricket Association has also tied up with www.kyazonga.com for online sale of tickets.
