Sajid Khan showcased some unwavering commitment towards representing his country on Day 2 of the 3rd Test between Pakistan and England at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Sajid’s resilience stole the spotlight as he impressed both fans and analysts alike. Batting at No. 10, he delivered a brisk 37 off 31 balls, but not without its hurdles. During his innings, Sajid tried an ambitious lap shot off England’s young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed. Unfortunately, the ball deflected off his bat and struck him on the chin. Blood streamed down his cheek and neck, requiring swift medical attention on the field. He remained undeterred and batted his way to make Pakistan reach a dominating position.
“Two stitches on it (the cut he picked up on his jaw). Playing for the country, so such things don’t matter. The team needs me. In domestics, I have a few fifties, but in internationals, my duty is to help the set of batters that are out there. Today Saud was there and I had to support him. Few of them (English players) know Urdu so we tried to confuse them. If we can get Root early tomorrow, we can reach a strong position,” Sajid told the broadcasters after the end of Day 2.
Sajid Khan bleeds his way to fight
Pakistan dominate proceedings
Pakistan put in an excellent all-round display, with the lower order once again stepping up to cover the inconsistencies of the top batters. Saud Shakeel was the standout performer, anchoring the innings with a composed 134. His knock was a masterclass in adapting to tricky conditions—patiently rotating strikes, defending resolutely, and displaying solid technique throughout.
The spinners also made valuable contributions with the bat. Noman Ali chipped in with 45, while Sajid Khan stayed unbeaten on 48. Their crucial partnership with Shakeel turned the tide, transforming what could have been a deficit into a respectable 77-run lead.
England would face a tricky phase, having already lost three key wickets late in the day. Duckett was pinned in the crease, Crawley fell to a clever slider by Sajid and Pope struggled with his technique against the low bounce. With England still trailing by 53 runs and seven wickets remaining, much will depend on Joe Root to guide them through what seems to be a deteriorating pitch.
