Saqib's smile sweeps across his face as he sits in his seat.
He says it's so cringe saying this but he just watches himself on the internet.
The England and Lancashire fast bowler, who admits he rarely watches cricket when not playing, has not taken to the field for five months because of a stressFracture in his Back.
He said he misses bowling. It's the closest you can get.
"It happens randomly, sometimes spurred by a song I am listening to, but I imagine myself running in and taking a shot."
He had an injury that ruled him out for the season. In June, the early weeks of Mahmood's life were recorded by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
He is nearing the end of a long, lonely and frustrating road of rehabilitation and looking forward to his return.
The sun is shining at Old Manchester.
The ground is empty except for a few people who are preparing for a match the next day.
This is a big moment for the man. The 25-year-old is allowed to run again four months after he was injured.
He says that his legs and arms did not work at the same time.
It felt like there wasn't any coordination.
Recovering from stress fractures of the back is a challenge for fast bowlers. As the bone was given time to heal, Mahmood couldn't do any exercise.
After working on an England one-day international in Chester-le-Street for the British Broadcasting Corporation, Mahmood was given the all-clear to begin his rehabilitation.
Gym sessions feature standard press-ups, squats and lunges, while the first day was a 20-minute walk.
It is worthwhile at the beginning. Previously, he had little to wake up for, but now he has a strict schedule.
After his first session in the gym in July, Mahmood said he couldn't tell you how good it was.
I have something to look forward to when I wake up.
Even if it's two hours in the morning and I'm done for the day, that little bit of satisfaction is still worth it.
During my injury, my sleeping habits have been terrible, my pattern is getting better, and my nutrition is better because I need to work again.
Time can be spent for highs and lows. At the end of the initial five-week program, Mahmood admits to becoming very, very frustrated.
He says that the first week or two is when you get used to it.
I did all my sessions on my own for five weeks. It was a tough job.
The loneliness has been a part of the journey. He would go to the gym on his own.
In August, a message from the England camp said that they wanted him to join them for the Manchester Test against South Africa.
I just messaged him and asked if he'd like me for the Test match. Before he reached for his phone, Mahmood said something.
"He said, 'Yes, mate,'" I love to have you with the group.
I haven't been in the dressing room for a while.
It was worthwhile for me to do that even after a day's play because it made me feel involved in the group.
Everyone has forgotten about you when you are injured.
After his Test debut against the West Indies in the Caribbean, Mahmood was injured.
That was under England's old regime, but his three days last month were the first time he had seen the new Test team.
He says that seeing how the game was played made him want to return to the team.
I thought that was my mindset.
I wanted to get back into this team and play well.
An England return remains a way off but Mahmood will return to bowling this week in the next major step forward after his latest scans showed he is fully healed from his broken jaw.
He hopes to be bowling at full capacity again in November and has not ruled out being fit enough to play for England in Pakistan in December.
The process will be gradual It's still weeks away from bowling at full speed.
He has a colour-coded document of goblet squats, kneeling Supermans and mountain climbers that will help him become stronger in the future. He has been working on improving his actions.
The desire to be bowling still remains strong. The visualization of himself bowling is a way to forget the pain of April.
When I think about bowling I think about pain. When I run in and land, I think about my bowling days when I had a stress fracture.
He says that he is thinking about getting a piece of the urn next year. I want to be a part of that.
The end is in sight but there is still a ways to go.
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