‘Sajid Khan needs to master the arm ball’

Former Test opener Sadiq Mohammad has offered advice to Pakistan off-spinner Sajid Khan, encouraging him to perfect his arm ball — a crucial delivery for any off-spinner.

"Sajid is a bowler with the ability to penetrate," Sadiq said during an interview with Nukta. "He has good flight, but his arm ball isn't very effective."

Sajid was included in Pakistan’s squad for the second Test against England in Multan and made an early impact, taking seven wickets in the first innings, which helped Pakistan secure a 75-run lead. He remains key in the second innings as well, dismissing Ben Duckett on the third ball of England's reply.

Sadiq emphasized the importance of Sajid mastering the arm ball: "He needs to learn how to swing the arm ball. It doesn't turn but beats the right-handed batsman from the off-stump, often leading to an edge caught by the keeper or slips. The arm ball should either hold its line or move away in the air from the right-hander."

“Arm ball is a very key delivery for the off-spinner. It should swing in the air and after pitching it should leave the outside edge of the right-handed batsman,” he added.

However, Sadiq wasn’t impressed with Aamir Jamal’s bowling in the first innings.

"While the Pakistani spinners bowled well, Aamir Jamal showed no movement in his deliveries. In contrast, all three English pacers had good movement," he said.

"The pitch won’t help you — it's about how the bowler uses his grip, wrist, and the ball's shine. Fast bowlers need to learn how to seam the ball, even on unresponsive pitches. Similarly, spin is also created by the bowler."

Key contributions

The former cricketer also praised Kamran Ghulam, who scored a century on his Test debut against England.

Kamran Ghulam celebrates his century on Test debut for Pakistan. PCB

"Kamran is a composed and fearless player. On a turning pitch, he didn’t let the ball turn much. His innings were both sensible and valuable for Pakistan."

Sadiq also appreciated Salman Ali Agha’s fifty, which came at a crucial stage for Pakistan.

"Salman is a calculated player with a strong mental approach. His batting position is tough, often playing with the tail, but he handles it well," Sadiq said.