Sajid Mahmood

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Sajid Mahmood : biography

21 December 1981 –

Despite having taken only six first-class wickets, Mahmood was chosen for England A’s tour to India and Malaysia in 2003–04. He made his One Day International debut for England against New Zealand at Bristol in July 2004, but his seven overs proved expensive, conceding 56 runs without a wicket. More recently, he toured India with England in early 2006, playing in the third, sixth and seventh ODIs and taking several wickets.

He was included in the Test squad against Sri Lanka in 2006 following injuries to Steve Harmison, James Anderson and Simon Jones, and earned his first cap on 11 May 2006 in the first Test at Lord’s, becoming England’s 633rd Test player. England reached an imposing first-innings score of 551, and Mahmood took three wickets in his first four overs in Test cricket at the end of the second day, as the Sri Lankan team disintegrated to 91 for 6 at the close. He was unable to add to his tally before Sri Lanka were forced to follow on early on the third day, but added two further wickets in Sri Lanka’s more composed second innings on the fourth day.

Mahmood was replaced by Jon Lewis for the third Test against Sri Lanka. However on 27 July 2006 he was selected ahead of Lewis for the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford after Liam Plunkett was ruled out due to injury. Although the pitch at Old Trafford favoured seamers, Mahmood performed relatively poorly. However, he was retained for the Third Test at Headingley. He contributed 34 runs with the bat in England’s first innings, but then went for 108 runs over 24 overs, albeit with two wickets, in a high-scoring Pakistan first innings. In the second innings, he took 4 wickets for only 22 runs in 8 overs, contributing significantly to England’s series-clinching victory. He featured in the final match of the series, dubbed Ovalgate. He took 2-101 in Pakistan’s first innings before the game was forfeited by Pakistan for refusing to take the field during England’s second innings.

England in Australia 2006–07

Sajid Mahmood in the nets during the 2006–07 Ashes series in Australia Mahmood was selected for England’s 2006–07 Ashes squad, but James Anderson was selected ahead of him for the first and second tests. For the third Test in Perth Mahmood and Monty Panesar replaced Anderson and Ashley Giles. He featured sporadically in the test, bowling just 7 overs in Australia’s first innings and 10 in their second, taking no wickets. He later expressed his unhappiness about not bowling more during the test. Mahmood also played in the ODI match against Australia on 2 February 2007 in Sydney, taking 2 wickets for 38 runs, and sharing the new ball with fellow fast bowler Liam Plunkett. He took the wicket of Brad Hodge by bowling him. He also took the wicket of destructive batsman Matthew Hayden after Hayden had scored 51. Hayden hit the ball straight to Jamie Dalrymple. He has appeared in a Bollywood film called Victory.

2007 World Cup

After his successful performances in the Commonwealth Bank Series victory over Australia, Mahmood was shortlisted for the 15-man England squad for the World Cup. Although he wasn’t selected for the first few matches, he came into the side against Canada. Against Sri Lanka in the Super Eight stage he produced his best figures in a ODI match, taking the wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara in his spell of 4-50. After his successful bowling figures against Sri Lanka, he was picked for the match against Australia. Despite being England’s most expensive bowler in that match, he was picked for the following match against Bangladesh, in which he took 3 wickets for 27 runs. England won and Mahmood was awarded Man of the Match.

Youth and early career

Sajid Mahmood’s grandfather, Lal Khan Janjua, emigrated from Rawalpindi in Pakistan to England with his family in 1968. The family settled in Halliwell, a residential area of Bolton. Sajid Mahmood was born in Bolton, Greater Manchester on 21 December 1981, the son of Shahid Mahmood, and grew up with his family. He has a sister and two brothers and is first cousin to boxer Amir Khan. Khan is five years younger than Mahmood and the two cousins stay close, having grown up living near to each other.

Mahmood began playing club cricket in the Bolton Leagues, and played well enough to be signed by Lancashire in 2002. He made his debut for Lancashire in 2002 whilst on a scholarship with the club.