I've been fined twice in first-class cricket for Shikhar Dhawan-like celebration: Sajid Khan

Pakistan off-spinner Sajid Khan is part of the 16-member squad for the Australia home Tests and he recently opened up on his Shikhar Dhawan-like celebration. Having made his Test debut in 2021, Sajid has played four Tests for Pakistan and has picked up 18 wickets already. His twelve-wicket match haul against Bangladesh in Mirpur last year was quite impressive and he is a handy batter down the order as well with a first-class century.

Pakistan will be hosting Australia for the first time since 1998 and the historic series gets underway from March 4. The visitors will play three Tests in the subcontinent and it will be followed by three ODIs as well. Both sides have named their squads for the upcoming series and the Pat Cummins-led Australia is coming off a dominating Ashes performance at home. Therefore, they will fancy their chances in the subcontinent nation with a strong squad that has been named.

I have been doing this celebration since school cricket: Sajid Khan

Sajid Khan noted that his Dhawan like-celebration is not being copied from the latter and rather, he has been even warned twice for his celebration that way in first-class cricket. Dhawan likes to use his thigh celebration every time he takes a catch on the field and has been doing it for a long time in international cricket while Sajid was seen doing the same kind of celebration recently.

“Everyone has their own style and people say that I copy Shikhar Dhawan’s celebration. I have been doing this celebration since school cricket. Just to bring this under your notice that I have been fined twice for this celebration in first-class cricket,” he told during a press conference.

“Now everyone is appreciating this celebration,” Sajid Khan told in the pre-match conference ahead of Australia Tests.

Sajid went on to reveal that he has plans for every batter in the strong Australia lineup and was ready to contribute in whatever way possible. He added the importance of meetings with Saqlain Mushtaq in terms of getting ready for match scenarios.

“If you see their [Australia] batting lineup they have world-class batter in the shape of Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and then comes their wicketkeeper Carey. My goal is to target every single one of them. Either I get the wicket of our fast bowlers, we need to bowl them out.”

“Saqi Bhai [Saqlain] holds day-by-day meetings with us. He usually comes out in between scenario matches and guides us. And sometimes he calls us in his room separately to discuss things with us,” Sajid added.