Sajid Khan began the third Test at Rawalpindi with six wickets in the first innings after leading Pakistan to a series-leveling victory against England with a nine-wicket haul in the second Test in Multan. His vivacity, passion, and direct demeanour are not to be overlooked.
He still had a lot of work to do in this Test, it seemed. So he did. With his bat this time, even before he had another chance with the ball, and, dare we say it, with his unrivalled bravery and bluster.
Sajid struck an undefeated 48 off 48 balls with four sixes and two fours when he entered the batting order at No. 10, with Pakistan still two runs behind England’s first-inning total. Pakistan took a commanding lead because to his 72-run partnership with Shaud Shakeel.
However, that wasn’t even the most fascinating aspect. Sajid attempted to paddle England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed fine while batting on 37 by walking across his stumps, but he was hit in the chin with a top edge. It was a hard hit. Sajid did not recoil as blood began to trickle down his shirt. Even as the physiotherapists were tending to him, he appeared as focused as ever.
Sajid persisted in his batting and even smacked a six against Rehan. Zahid Mahmood of Pakistan might have reached his half-century if he hadn’t been out for a golden duck. He went for sutures after the innings, but he returned to bowl four overs before the end of play to get rid of Ben Duckett. England lost by a score of 24-3.
On the left in more than five hours of patience, Shakeel made 134 off 223 balls and worked hard with tailenders to create a significant 77-run first innings advantage before Pakistan was bowled out for 344 late on Day 2. The incapacity of England to bat on slow surfaces was revealed by spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who had previously frustrated England with their valuable batsmanship. They caught Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley leg before wicket, respectively.
Furthermore, England was still 53 runs down at stumps after Ollie Pope edged a catch of Ali’s left-arm spin to end his poor series. After England won the first test by an innings and 47 runs, Pakistan tied the series 1-1 with a 152-run victory in the second test on a recycled pitch in Multan.