Sajid Khan - An underrated off-spinner from Khyber Pakhtunkhawa

[Mercurial]

Few days ago checked a scorecard of the KPK 2nd XI match. He got 13 wickets in that match. I got curious about him then, so checked his cricinfo profile and found out he is an off spinner. Off spinners are rare nowadays in our domestic cricket. His stats are decent for anyone young into his career. He can bat too as his stats reveal so.

Has anyone seen him bowl? How about grooming him for the future? If you look at how Nathan Lyon has revived off spin bowling, I think he can be a handy spinner for the future. He is just 26.

Have your say?

 

[MenInG]

Sajid Khan 5-36 for Balochistan vs KPK in Round 5 of QEA - his was his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

I have seen him bowl, he's quite good, his action his very clean but it seems he just uses his bowling arm, gets good turn as well. He created a havoc in 2nd XI this season

 

[Rayyman]

Why not select for the SL series? He can't be worse than Bilal Asif.

 

[azimiqbal]

I think he definitely needs to be given a chance for home test, we desperately need an off spinner

 

[Sunny_majoka]

This guy can bat too. He has first class century in just handful of matches

 

[aloo paratha]

How old?

 

[Danyaalr01]

How old?

26

 

[MMHS]

One of the biggest find of this year's QeA is the Offie Sajid. PAK is striving for a quality offie with clean action and this guy looks to be the perfect foil. Bowls at beautiful pace, has a nice clean action and he is a genuine turner of off-spin. Besides, guy has has a FC average (Batting) of almost 19, made entirely in last few seasons when an average of 19 is like 35 this season.

This guy's contemporary form isn't captured properly, because he had played 2 games for 2nd XI, which isn't considered FC status, where he has 18 wickets @10 and 96 runs@96, and I am sure this year's second XI standard is much better than most of QeA tournament in recent past. He is officially 26, at the perfect age for a spinner, posses about 4 years experience now in domestics and a decent lower order batsman, can develop batting further - he can serve PAK for 10-12 years more.

PAK's next 2 series are against SRL & BD, both in Asia and at least 4+4 left-handers will bat in top 8 for both teams combined - there is absolutely no reason why this guy shouldn't debut against SRL. He and Zafar Gohar are contemporary, similar age and both capable batsmen as well - should be a must pick for UAE Tests, where finger spinners are must. There is absolutely no reason why PAK should invest further on Bilal Asif, almost 10 years older, who has 10 wickets in 9 full innings of Test cricket after his novelty figures of 6 wickets on debut - and he has played all those 9 innings in UAE, against AUS, NZ where 85 wickets had fallen to bowlers - that's as poor as it can be for a spinner, who averages 9 with bat. Sajid's FC stats are much better as well.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Should play every game this season then it will be apparent whether he belongs to play Test Cricket or not , so far signs are really positive.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

But whats happening in this season I am afraid he will be sitting out for the next game just like Sameen Gul

 

[JibranAnsari]

Long time since pakistan has a good offspinner. Hope he continues to do well and gets a chance.

 

[MMHS]

But whats happening in this season I am afraid he will be sitting out for the next game just like Sameen Gul

There are roughly 15-16 slots opening from next round - that's 2-3 players per team. Also, I believe useless seniors like Hafeez, Malik, JK, Zulfi Babar should now be blocked from the 1st team games - they have absolutely no future prospect, nothing to learn or deliver either, only gain they'll achieve from 1st team games is the match fee!!! Their only contribution now might be sharing experience, which is better to be delivered in 2nd XI, if so with younger players.

I see Ruahil Captaining in last game, which suggests a change in standard PCB policy (Though I am not sure why PCB should invest for captaincy again for a WK), therefore younger players should be encouraged more now.

 

[Rayyman]

There are roughly 15-16 slots opening from next round - that's 2-3 players per team. Also, I believe useless seniors like Hafeez, Malik, JK, Zulfi Babar should now be blocked from the 1st team games - they have absolutely no future prospect, nothing to learn or deliver either, only gain they'll achieve from 1st team games is the match fee!!! Their only contribution now might be sharing experience, which is better to be delivered in 2nd XI, if so with younger players.

I see Ruahil Captaining in last game, which suggests a change in standard PCB policy (Though I am not sure why PCB should invest for captaincy again for a WK), therefore younger players should be encouraged more now.

Imo Zafar Gohar is the best spinner in Pakistan rn, but Yasir Shah will stay in the team because of his UAE exploits.

Honestly I'd drop Yasir. The guy has no fitness and he can't bat anymore. He is only gonna get worse.

Unfortunately, Misbah has selected Kashif over Zafar.

PAK pace attack is looking quite thin too. Pacers need to be managed.

I'd select Shaheen for Tests only at this point. He can come back in white ball cricket for the Asia Cup next year.

One problem we have now is that there are no experienced pacers. Because PAK play barely any Tests. Which is why Imran has been recalled.

In Tests I would start:
Abbas/Imran
Shaheen
Musa/Naseem/Offspinner
SLA/Leggie

 

[Canistani Hero]

Looks like a better prospect than Waleed Ahmad. Hope he works with Saqi or Ajmal at some point

 

[MMHS]

Imo Zafar Gohar is the best spinner in Pakistan rn, but Yasir Shah will stay in the team because of his UAE exploits.

Honestly I'd drop Yasir. The guy has no fitness and he can't bat anymore. He is only gonna get worse.

Unfortunately, Misbah has selected Kashif over Zafar.

PAK pace attack is looking quite thin too. Pacers need to be managed.

I'd select Shaheen for Tests only at this point. He can come back in white ball cricket for the Asia Cup next year.

One problem we have now is that there are no experienced pacers. Because PAK play barely any Tests. Which is why Imran has been recalled.

In Tests I would start:
Abbas/Imran
Shaheen
Musa/Naseem/Offspinner
SLA/Leggie

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...ack-in-international-cricket-quot-Zafar-Gohar

 

[szundercover]

According to misbah we don't have any spinners beside shadab.

 

[Bewal Express]

I saw the clips on YouTube and they were of a poor quality. I hope he kicks on. Average leg spinners are waste of time in test Cricket, finger spinners are lethal on wearing wickets because of DRS.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

According to misbah we don't have any spinners beside shadab.

He was talking about leg spinners.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Looks like a better prospect than Waleed Ahmad. Hope he works with Saqi or Ajmal at some point

Saqlain yes.

Don't know about Ajmal, I love him but he was a chucker unfortunately. I don't know how much Sajid could learn from him. Ajmal was very intelligent regardless of the chucking though, so maybe that IQ Ajmal can help transfer.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Really hope he can continue to perform nad be selected for test team. He can be our new Saeed Ajmal.

 

[saeed5646]

Balochistan 117/10
Bismillah Khan 40 (48 balls)
Sajid Khan 4/45

 

[HappyWarsFan]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] this guy is one of the domestic players I'm most excited for, he could be really good in asian tests.

 

[Junaids]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] this guy is one of the domestic players I'm most excited for, he could be really good in asian tests.

Absolutely.

Sajid as an offie.

Zafar Gohar as a leftie who can bat at 8..

And Yasir Shah until Shadab’s bowling improves. (He took 3-33 today too).

In the 2021-23 World Test Championship Asian matches:

6 Rizwan
7 Shadab
8 Zafar
9 Sajid
10 Naseem
11 Shaheen

That’s a balanced attack: every type of bowler, and two of them can bat!

 

[MMHS]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] this guy is one of the domestic players I'm most excited for, he could be really good in asian tests.

Not in UAE - that stinky place needs darters, fastish accurate spinners. This guy might go for plenty in UAE, if he starts to flight - those wickets have no pace, no bounce, in fact no life - it doesn’t help batsmen either.

This guy could be an Ashwin like contributor on Indian wickets - good, firm dry wickets built on solid base where ball comes on to bat at nice height & pace, but wickets with cracks, start to break from day 3. He can bat well also.

Going by Misbah’s past I can safely say if it’s an offie, Bilal will play for 4-5 years more, Yasir as well and Gohar will get his chance after Kashif, Nauman .... are proven expired.

 

[Junaids]

I really hope that this guy is called up to the Test team.

Mickey Arthur thought that the off-spin cupboard was bare because Inzamam gave him Bilal Asif, but this guy is twice the bowler that Bilal is.

In Asia I prefer a squad to contain an offie - Sajid Khan - and a slow left-armer as well as Yasir Shah. Sajid Khan is 26 and Zafar Gohar is 24 - they would be a good set of investments for the future.

If Misbah prefers the “experience” of Kashif Bhatti and Bilal Asif we will all know that he is a lost cause.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Need video footage.

 

[Titan24]

I really hope that this guy is called up to the Test team.

Mickey Arthur thought that the off-spin cupboard was bare because Inzamam gave him Bilal Asif, but this guy is twice the bowler that Bilal is.

In Asia I prefer a squad to contain an offie - Sajid Khan - and a slow left-armer as well as Yasir Shah. Sajid Khan is 26 and Zafar Gohar is 24 - they would be a good set of investments for the future.

If Misbah prefers the “experience” of Kashif Bhatti and Bilal Asif we will all know that he is a lost cause.

And not to forget that Sajid Khan has one 100 and couple of 50s in FC cricket too, so he is handy with the bat. I think Kashif Bhatti is a decent 4 day bowler but maybe we should try the younger lot though it would be pretty harsh dropping Kashif after selecting him and not giving him a match.

Bilal however, is nowhere near the skill level Zafar Gohar, Sajid Khan and even Kashif Bhatti.

 

[Savak]

He has a bowling action, approach like Ashwin. Given that the cupboard is dry, no harm in giving him a chance.

 

[Hasan123]

He is a must. We don't have a right arm offie. Should be in the squad against Sri Lanka.

 

[Barragan]

Surprised he hasn't been selected by anyone in the PSL.

Has had an outstanding season and surely deserved to be picked.

 

[aloo paratha]

Surprised he hasn't been selected by anyone in the PSL.

Has had an outstanding season and surely deserved to be picked.

FC success doesn't translate to T20 success.

 

[Barragan]

FC success doesn't translate to T20 success.

Ofc it doesn't, however certainly worth trying especially over some of the names that have been picked.

 

[DRsohail]

Where is he?

 

[Ball Blazer]

Sajid Khan's Media Talk During Phase 3 of the Skills Development Camp in Lahore

On his ambitions and white-ball cricket:

• "I am focused on making my comeback in all three formats, but I have a special focus on white-ball cricket. I want to play for Pakistan in ODIs and T20s and in various leagues around the world."
• "My performances in white-ball cricket have been strong, and I was even named 'Man of the Match' in a One Day Champions final. I am confident in my abilities in the shorter formats."

On Test cricket and development:

• "There is a significant difference between first-class and Test cricket. The pressure and the quality of the opposition in Test matches are at a much higher level."
• "I believe Pakistan needs to play more Test matches to improve our ranking. I am optimistic about our chances in the current Test Championship cycle and I believe we can qualify for the 2027 final, especially with our home advantage."
• "I don't think four-day Test matches are a good idea. It would likely lead to more draws and reduce spectator interest. I prefer the traditional five-day format."

On the skills development camp and coaching:

• "The skills development camp has been incredibly beneficial for all players, both senior and junior. The early morning sessions have been particularly good for our preparation."
• "Junior players are learning a great deal from senior players like Babar Azam and from the ex-cricketers and selection committee members who are present at the camp."
• "I want to congratulate Azhar Mahmood on his appointment as the Test team's head coach. His experience, especially from coaching in county cricket, will be very helpful for us in the upcoming series against England."

On his personal development, fitness and County:

• "Playing county cricket for Somerset in 2022 was a valuable experience and it has prepared me well for the challenges of Test cricket. I would love to play county cricket again. Talks are going on with up to three clubs to feature in the English county. I am looking to play a maximum of six matches in the county cricket."
• "I attribute my fitness to my upbringing in a village and being a 'Pathan.' We are used to hard training and a healthy diet from a young age."