Saqib Mahmood ruled out of Hundred with recurrence of lumbar stress fracture

Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood has been ruled out of the English domestic season after a recurrence of a lumbar stress fracture. Lancashire Cricket Club informed about Mahmood’s injury on July 4.

The 26-year-old will undergo rehabilitation under the guidance of the club and ECB medical teams. Mahmood has also been ruled out of the upcoming season of ‘The Hundred’ men’s competition where he was supposed to play for Oval Invincibles. 

“Having consulted with specialists, Mahmood will now undergo rehabilitation under the guidance of Lancashire and ECB medical teams. He remains unavailable for Lancashire and has been ruled out of the upcoming Hundred for Oval Invincibles. Everybody at Lancashire Cricket wishes Saqib a safe and successful recovery,” Lancashire said in their official statement.

Mahmood played two matches for his side in County Championship, where could pick only three wickets at an average of 77. He also played three T20 Blast matches this season, picking four wickets at an average of 15.75 and an economy of 6.40.

There were concerns about Mahmood’s back since last month as he made his last appearance on the field on May 29 in the T20 Blast game against Birmingham Bears. He was due to visit a specialist in London at the end of June to get to know about the extent of his injury. 

A lower-back stress fracture troubled him during the 2022 domestic season as well, when he could manage to play just one game in the entire season. Following that, he made a comeback to competitive cricket, playing for England Lions in Sri Lanka earlier this year. He was then included in the ODI squad for England's tour to Bangladesh and registered figures of 0 for 41 in nine overs in the second ODI in his only appearance on the tour.