Early and Personal Life

Sohail Khan was born and raised in Sakhakot Malakand Division in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He played tennis-ball-cricket from a young age and bowled at a brisk pace, thanks to the muscular strength he developed by throwing stones and swimming in rivers and streams in the mountainous area. Realizing his potential, he moved to Karachi on the advice of a friend to play professional cricket. His brother Murad Khan played top-flight cricket before turning to modelling.

Domestic Career

After playing a little cricket in Karachi, Khan entered a speed hunting talent contest held by former Pakistani bowler Sikander Bakht and achieved the top spot. His speed of 95 mph was also the third fastest in the country. A stint at the Millat Club in Malir was followed by a spot on the Sindh Police team. A few months later he was treated by Dr. Shah, a prominent figure in Karachi's cricket fraternity who convinced him to sign A.O. Society. While playing for Shah's team, Khan was spotted by former Pakistani captain Rashid Latif, who offered him a place at his cricket academy, which he accepted. He also played for the Deewan Group during his time at the academy before joining the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) cricket team. He took 21 wickets in his first games for SSGC and the team were promoted to first-class cricket shortly thereafter.

Khan made his first class debut for SSGC against Pakistan Customs in the 2007/08 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He impressed with the ball in his first innings, picking up a five-wicket draw for just 59 runs from 25 overs, and followed that up in the second inning with another five-wicket draw for 75 runs in 23 overs to come up with a draw to complete ten wickets on the debut. In SSGC's final game of the competition, Khan Fazal Mahmood broke the long-standing record for best bowling figures by a Pakistani in first-class cricket with a 16–189 match-haul after 52.5 overs against WAPDA at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi. He finished the competition as the top wicket-taker with 65 wickets on an average of 18.43, including eight hauls of five wickets and two hauls of ten wickets.

Khan played for Sind in the 2007–08 Pentangular Cup, winning four wickets in his team's opening game. He followed that performance in the next two games with five straight wicket draws against Baluchistan and Federal Areas. Against Punjab he conceded six wickets including Salman Butt, Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal and helped Sind win the tournament. Khan was subsequently named Bowler of the Tournament, leading by 23 wickets for an average of 16.69, meaning he finished his first first-class season with 91 wickets from 14 games.

He was the leading wicket-taker for United Bank Limited at the 2017/18 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with 51 layoffs in seven games. At the 2017 Pakistan Cup, he was the leading wicket-taker for the Federal Areas with seven sending-offs in five games.

In April 2018 he was called up to Sindh's squad for the 2018 Pakistan Cup. In March 2019, he was called up to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's squad for the 2019 Pakistan Cup. In the tournament's final, he scored 45 not outs and took three wickets and was named Player of the Match.
In September 2019, he was named to Sindh's squad for the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament.

PSL

He was bought by Karachi Kings in 2016 for $25,000. He only won 4 wickets in 6 games but was still trusted by franchise owners and team management as he was retained by the Kings for the 2017 season, winning the Maroon Cap and the Best Bowler of the Season award as he Having won 16 wickets in just 9 helping games his team wins many important games.

International career

Khan made his international debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in game four of the five ODI series. He was expensive on the flat wicket, although he did manage to concede one wicket and finish counting 1/38 from 7 overs. He then played in the third and fourth ODI against the visiting Bangladeshis in April 2008, going wicketless in the first and picking up three wickets in the second.

He was chosen to replace Mohammad Asif in the 16-man squad for the Tri Series in Bangladesh in June 2008 involving the hosts and India after Asif was arrested at Dubai International Airport. On 7 January 2015, PCB Chief Selector Moin Khan announced the Pakistan Cricket World Cup 2015 squad in which Sohail Khan was the surprise selection. He has not been on the international team since 2011 and was selected for his strong national performance in the 2014 season and for remaining one of the fastest bowlers in the country.

Cricket World Cup 2015

Khan made a team comeback in Pakistan's crucial opening game against arch-rivals India at the World Cup on February 15. He went 5-55 and was on the hat trick in the last over after firing Indian skippers MS Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane but it wasn't enough as the Indian side scored 300 for 7 wickets (300/7) and Pakistan scored ejected at the end of the 47th over for 224 and thus India won the game by 76 runs. He hit 7 runs from 10 balls, including a boundary.

Khan took important wickets during the tournament. In the rain game against South Africa, Pakistan took 222 points before the 47th was over. Khan bowled well and worried the Proteas batsmen. He took the deciding wicket from AB de Villiers who threatened to take the game away. Pakistan won the game by 29 runs (D/L) and it was the first time Pakistan won a World Cup game against South Africa.

Khan ended up as Pakistan's second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 12 wickets at an average of 30.33. He was ruled out of the team through injury after the tournament and was not seen until the 2016 Test series against England.

Back to Test Cricket

Khan returned to the Test five years after his debut. Selected for the squad against England, he played the third Test against the hosts and won his first five. He took 7/207 in the match where Pakistan lost by 141 runs. In the fourth and final Test, he again took a five, resulting in Pakistan winning the match and drawing the series 2-2.

In August 2017, he was named to Pakistan's squad for the 2017 Independence Cup, a Twenty20 International series against a World XI team. In June 2020, he was called up to a 29-man squad for Pakistan's tour to England amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In July he was shortlisted for Pakistan's 20-man squad for the friendly against England.