Mir Hamza Sajjad is up and talking again after a nasty knock to the back of the head put the Islamabad United fast bowler in hospital on Monday afternoon.
The 25-year-old left-armer, still waiting for his first Pakistan Super League appearance of the season, was working through a routine spell in the Karachi nets when a firm drive from a neighbouring strip flew straight at him. With his back half-turned, Sajjad had almost no time to react; the ball smacked into the base of his helmet and he crumpled slowly to the turf.
Physio Cliffe Deacon was on him inside seconds. “He was out cold, no two ways about it,” Deacon said later. “The priority was to keep the airway clear and get him moving as little as possible until the ambulance rolled in.” Sajjad regained consciousness on the short ride to hospital and, according to the medical staff, answered simple questions right away – an encouraging early sign.
Team doctor Dr Uzair Jafri confirmed overnight scans showed “no bleed, no fracture, nothing sinister”, though a standard concussion protocol means the bowler will sit out at least the next match. Islamabad meet Lahore Qalandars tomorrow; as things stand they lie third with two wins from three.
Head coach Mike Hesson praised the quick work of his support staff. “We drill these emergency scenarios every pre-season – you hope you never use them, but today they mattered,” he said. Hesson added that Sajjad had been offered the chance to return home to Karachi and rest with family. “Hamza told me, ‘I’m staying with the boys – I don’t want to miss a ball.’ That’s his call and we’ll respect it, provided the medics are happy.”
Skipper Shadab Khan echoed the sentiment. “Accidents happen in training, unfortunately,” he said. “The important thing is Hamza’s OK and we’ll give him all the time he needs.”
If recovery goes smoothly, Sajjad could be available inside a week. Concussion protocols in the PSL mirror the ICC’s guidelines: a minimum seven-day rest, symptom-free, followed by a gradual return to bowling loads. For a young quick keen to break into a settled XI, it is frustrating but necessary.
United still have Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees and Mohammad Wasim Jnr fit, so there is no immediate pressure to rush him back. Even so, a full squad is always welcome deep into a tournament that can punish thin attacks.
For now, the dressing-room mood is relief. “When you see a mate go down like that, cricket stops mattering,” Shadab admitted. Tomorrow, of course, the league rolls on – but at least one of its bowlers will be watching with his feet up, grateful the stray drive was not an inch or two higher.
