A routine training day for Islamabad United lurched into alarm on Tuesday when young pacer Mir Hamza Sajjad was struck on the head during a net session at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre.
One mistimed shot. One split second.
Mark Chapman, part of United’s squad, lost control of a stroke in the nets. The ball flew off his bat and crashed into the back of Sajjad’s head. The right-arm medium-fast bowler collapsed to the ground, briefly losing consciousness, according to Pakistan-based outlet Geo Super.
The mood changed instantly. Bats stopped. Conversations died. Players and support staff rushed towards Sajjad as the session ground to a halt.
Medical staff attended to him before he was taken to a nearby hospital for checks. Geo Super reported that Sajjad later regained consciousness and is now stable, a crucial piece of news that eased some of the tension around the camp. As a precaution, doctors will conduct a CT scan to rule out any internal damage.
Until those results arrive, there will be a lingering unease.
Islamabad United have yet to issue an official statement, but the immediate reaction inside the camp was one of concern rather than cricketing calculation. A net session, usually the safest space in a team’s week, had suddenly reminded everyone of the sport’s harsh edges.
For Sajjad, the blow comes just as his career threatens to open up. Still waiting for his Pakistan Super League debut, he was picked by Islamabad United in the first PSL players’ auction for PKR 70 lakh, a significant investment in a developing quick. His numbers hint at promise: eight wickets in six T20 matches and 25 wickets from eight First-Class games.
This was supposed to be his launchpad. Instead, his name entered the headlines for a very different reason.
Islamabad United's Current Standing
Inside the wider PSL picture, Islamabad United remain firmly in the mix. Led by Shadab Khan, they sit third on the points table with two wins, one loss and one no-result, their five points backed by a healthy net run rate of 1.055. Their next assignment is against Lahore Qalandars at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
That fixture now carries an extra layer of emotion. United will prepare, as they must, but thoughts will keep drifting back to the young fast bowler who went down in the nets, and to the scan that will tell them how quickly he can chase his long-awaited PSL debut.
