Who is Saqib Mahmood: ENG vs PAK: England pacer Saqib Mahmood takes down Pakistan in ODI series opener

The English bowlers performed brilliantly during the first ODI between the hosts England cricket team and Pakistan in Cardiff. England won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat first. The Pakistani team, along with all their star players, came out with the intention of scoring big as England came on the field with a changed new team due to the Kovid circumstances. But the English bowlers ruined his dreams. In this, 24-year-old fast bowler Saqib Mahmood played the role of hero.

In this first match of the ODI series, the Pakistani team came out to bat first but they looked flop from the beginning. The main reason for this became the 24-year-old English fast bowler of Pakistani origin, Saqib Mahmood. Shakib, who came to play against Pakistan for the first time, wreaked such havoc that the entire Pakistani team was bundled out for 141 runs.

Saqib rocked

Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood had come to play the fifth match of his ODI career. Due to Kovid-infected cases, if he was left in the England team, he also got a chance again. He came and showed his mettle with the very first ball. Mahmood sent two big Pakistan batsmen to the pavilion on the score of zero on the first and third balls of the first over of the match.

Imam-ul-Haq was LBW on the first ball, while on the third ball, captain Babar Azam was caught by Crowley. After this, he got the catch of Saud Shakeel (5 runs) playing his first match. While as his fourth wicket Faheem Ashraf (5 runs) was caught by wicketkeeper Simpson. Shakib bowled 1 maiden over in his 10 overs and took 4 wickets conceding 42 runs which is also the best performance of his international career. Pakistan team was bundled out for 141 runs in 35.2 overs. In reply, the English team achieved the target in the 22nd over by losing 1 wicket and won by 9 wickets. Saqib Mahmood was adjudged ‘Man of the Match’.

Who is Saqib Mahmood?

Saqib Mahmood was born on 25 February 1997 in Birmingham (England). Today he is making a ruckus against Pakistan but he himself is also of Pakistani origin. His parents are from Pakistan. There was a time in January-February 2019 when England’s tour of India was not allowed due to visa problems. In the same year, in the Royal London Cup, he became the first bowler for Lancashire Cricket Club to take five wickets in a List-A match.

In November 2019, he got a chance to play the T20 series against New Zealand, while the following month he was also included in the ODI team. Whereas in February 2020, Mahmood was included in the Test squad for England’s tour of Sri Lanka in place of the injured Mark Wood. Most recently, in May 2021, during the County Cricket Championship, Mahmood took five wickets in an innings for the first time in first-class cricket.

He is consistently performing well and that is why the selectors have given him a chance. Till now he has taken 9 wickets in 5 ODI matches. While he has taken 3 wickets in 6 T20 Internationals.