Saqib Mahmood bowling for England during the IND vs ENG 2026 ODI series

Saqib Mahmood Biography: Age, Pakistan Roots, Stats & Career

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So if you’ve been watching the IND vs ENG series and you’re like, why is this bowler with a very Pakistani-sounding name always sprinting in to bowl for England, well the quick answer is pretty much here: .

Who Is Saqib Mahmood? England’s Pakistan-Origin Pacer Explained

He’s English by birth, Pakistani by heritage, and right now he’s one of the guys Harry Brook is sort of depending on to rescue England’s ODI campaign. He got recalled for the series, and he’s been slotted into England’s XI for the second ODI in Cardiff, after England slipped to 1-0 down following that six wicket defeat at Edgbaston.

Saqib Mahmood Biography

Detailinfo
Full NameSaqib Mahmood
Date of BirthFebruary 25, 1997
BirthplaceBirmingham, England
Raised InRochdale, England
RoleRight-arm fast bowler
Domestic TeamLancashire
National TeamEngland
Pakistani RootsAttock, Punjab

The Pakistan Connection

Now this is the part everyone is really chasing after. Mahmood was born in Birmingham , to British Pakistani parents. His family’s older roots kind of go back to Attock in Punjab , Pakistan. He’s never played for Pakistan, he came up through England’s age group pathway and has represented England at nearly every step, but that heritage has ended up shaping his path in a real, practical way more than once.

And well yeah , because of his Pakistani background, Mahmood has had visa headaches during more than one stretch in India. He also missed an England Lions tour of India in early 2019 because of passport related problems , nothing small there.

Then in early 2025 his visa for another India tour was delayed, before it finally came through in time. It turns into this kind of repeating subplot whenever England tour the subcontinent, and that’s exactly why “Saqib Mahmood Pakistan connection” suddenly spikes every time his name pops up when India are involved.

Career Path

Mahmood first started turning heads at the 2016 Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, where he finished among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers. He then joined Lancashire and built a strong reputation in white-ball cricket, and in 2019 he became the first Lancashire bowler to grab five wicket hauls in consecutive List A matches — 2019 was also the year he earned his first England call-up.

His real breakthrough kind of happened, like, by accident nearly. In England’s 2021 ODI series vs Pakistan, a Covid outbreak basically scrambled everything and a totally rebuilt squad was thrown together, then Mahmood got landed in the new-ball role. He struck early, dismissed Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam within the space of three balls on his first go, ended up with 4 for 42, and then somehow walked off with Player of the Series too. After that, he made his Test debut the next year, against West Indies.

Mahmood’s most notable domestic highlight came in 2024, when he was Player of the Final as Oval Invincibles kept hold of their Hundred title, and he tore up the Southern Brave middle order with a match-winning burst.

What He Brings — And Why He’s Compared to Waqar Younis

Mahmood bowls quick — up to around 90mph — and really finds his best rhythm with the old ball, leaning on reverse swing and yorkers to slice through batting plans in the death overs. That whole package, plus his background, has kept dragging in comparisons to Pakistan great Waqar Younis.

He’s shown the same sort of impact against India too. Earlier this year in a T20I, Mahmood pulled off a triple-wicket maiden, dismissed Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav in the very same over, without giving away a single run. It was only the second time a bowler has done that in men’s T20I history.

Career Stats

  • Format debuts: T20I (2019, vs New Zealand), ODI (2020, vs South Africa), Test (2022, vs West Indies)
  • Signature spell: 4/42 vs Pakistan, ODI debut series, 2021 — Player of the Series
  • T20I highlight: Triple-wicket maiden vs India, 2025
  • The Hundred: Player of the Final, Oval Invincibles, 2024

Personal Life

As for personal life, Mahmood stays pretty private, and there’s no confirmed public detail about his family beyond his parents’ Pakistani heritage. He’s also known to support Liverpool FC away from cricket.

FAQs

Is Saqib Mahmood Pakistani or English?
He’s English, born in Birmingham, and a full England international, but of Pakistani heritage. His family roots trace back to Attock, Punjab.

Has Saqib Mahmood ever played for Pakistan?
No, it’s not that simple though—he has represented England at every rung, from Under-19s all the way up to the senior international group.

Why does Saqib Mahmood face visa issues touring India?
And yeah, his Pakistani heritage has led to visa delays on at least two occasions when England toured India, including in 2019 and 2025.

What is Saqib Mahmood best known for?
His reverse swing and yorker skills at pace , a Player of the Series award on ODI debut versus Pakistan in 2021, plus a record equalling triple-wicket maiden against India in 2025.

Is Saqib Mahmood playing in the IND vs ENG ODI series?
Yes — he was recalled to the squad and named in England’s XI for the second ODI in Cardiff.

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