Saqib Mahmood is the latest in a growing number of promising, young fast bowlers to earn a call-up to the England team, selected in the T20 and Test squads for this winter's tour of New Zealand. Saj Sadiq spoke to the 22-year-old quick following his fine season for Lancashire, one which saw him finish as the leading wicket-taker in the Royal London One-Day Cup - 28 wickets at an average of 18.50 - and pick up a further 21 wickets in nine games as the Red Rose were crowned champions of Division Two of the County Championship. Mahmood talks about his reaction to his maiden England call-up, his cricketing role models growing up and specifically the inspiration he takes from county (and possibly future international) team-mate James Anderson...
Aaqib Javed was one of the key figures in Pakistan bowling line-up from 1990 to 1998. He was part of the World Cup winning squad of 1992 and also played in the 1996 World Cup. Needless to say he knows a thing or two about playing in the cricket mega event and facing India in a high-adrenaline clash.
In an exclusive interview with Saj for Firstpost, just the before the epic India-Pakistan encounter on 16 June, the former Pakistan fast-bowler spoke about his own experiences of playing in the World Cup, the importance to world cricket of the upcoming iconic encounter between old foes India and Pakistan on Sunday, his advice for both sets of players as they prepare for the game and explained why Pakistan’s unpredictability could be the perfect foil for India’s overall superiority in batting and bowling.