Islamabad United’s preparation for their next Pakistan Super League assignment was jolted on Tuesday when young fast bowler Mir Hamza Sajjad was struck on the head during a net session and briefly lost consciousness.
The incident unfolded at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre, where United were tuning up ahead of a key clash in Karachi. Mark Chapman, part of the Islamabad squad, miscued a powerful shot in the nets. The ball flew off his bat, struck Sajjad on the back of the head, and sent the right-arm quick crashing to the ground, according to Pakistan-based outlet Geo Super.
For a few unsettling moments, routine practice turned into a scene of real concern. Players and support staff rushed towards Sajjad as the session ground to a halt, the mood around the nets shifting instantly from competitive to anxious.
Medical staff moved quickly. Sajjad was taken to a nearby hospital for checks, with the initial fear focused on the fact that he had briefly lost consciousness. Geo Super later reported that he had regained consciousness and was in a stable condition, easing some of the tension around the camp.
The relief is only partial. As a precaution, a CT scan is set to be carried out to rule out any internal injury and to determine the extent, if any, of the damage. Until those results arrive, Islamabad United will remain on alert over the fitness of a bowler they had earmarked as part of their future.
Sajjad is still at the start of his professional journey. He has played six T20 matches, taking eight wickets, and has 25 wickets from eight First-Class games. Those numbers were enough for Islamabad United to invest in his potential at the first PSL players’ auction, where they secured him for PKR 70 lakh. He has yet to make his PSL debut.
That debut will now depend on medical clearance and how he recovers from this blow. For a young pacer trying to break into a side with serious title ambitions, it is an untimely interruption.
Current Standings
Islamabad United, led by Shadab Khan, sit third on the PSL points table with two wins, one loss and one no-result, giving them five points and a healthy net run rate of 1.055. They are due to face Lahore Qalandars at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
As the franchise chases momentum on the field, all eyes inside the camp will first turn to the hospital reports on Mir Hamza Sajjad – and to whether a promising fast bowler can quickly rejoin a season that is just beginning to open up.
