Mondli Khumalo cleared to play, will rejoin membership in UK lower than a 12 months after assault
Mondli Khumalo will journey to the UK on Friday to rejoin North Petherton Cricket Club in Somerset lower than a 12 months after an assault by which he suffered bleeding within the mind.
The assault left Khumalo, a former South Africa Under-19 bowler, together with his cricket profession hanging by a thread. But he has now been cleared to play by a neurosurgeon and is hopeful of normal sport time to safe a deal in South Africa for subsequent season.
He is not on the books of Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland, the provincial workforce based mostly in Pietermaritzburg who have been promoted to Division One for the 2023-24 season. “Getting game time under his belt in the UK is an important part of his preparation for the next SA summer,” Rob Humphries, Khumalo’s agent, advised ESPNcricinfo. “He is buzzing to get back on the field.”
Khumalo has been out of action since final May, when he was attacked whereas celebrating a workforce win outdoors a pub in Bristol. He was unconscious on the scene and acquired emergency medical remedy which required him to be put into an induced coma for 4 days. Khumalo’s mind accidents have been severe sufficient to require 4 operations, three to alleviate strain on the mind and a closing one to switch the piece of cranium that had been eliminated to assist with different procedures, and remained within the UK till November final 12 months. A crowdfunding marketing campaign was launched to help with prices, together with getting flights for his mom and uncle to journey from South Africa to be at his facet.
Throughout his time in restoration, Khumalo remained dedicated to creating a comeback to the sport. Ten days after being hospitalised, Khumalo was in a position to stand unaided and his membership team-mate Lloyd Irish shared a video of Khumalo catching a sponge ball. On his return to South Africa, Khumalo was an everyday attendee at Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland video games. In February then, he suffered a seizure that threatened to set again his return, however he recovered rapidly.
Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland launched their squad for the upcoming summer time earlier this week and it contains the acquisition of left-arm seamer Mbulelo Buadaza from the Knights, who have been relegated, and Thando Ntini from the Dolphins, which has left no room for Khumalo at this stage. ESPNcricinfo understands that if no alternatives come up in South Africa for the season forward, Khumalo may take a look at enjoying membership cricket in Australia, the place a number of golf equipment have expressed curiosity in him after listening to his story.
A 27-year-old man was arrested in reference to Khumalo’s assault and can go on trial in October.