The Many Rescue Acts of Saud Shakeel

Saud Shakeel played a remarkable innings in the third test match between Pakistan and England to rescue his side from 155/6 to take Pakistan to 344, with a healthy innings lead of 77 runs.

Unsurprisingly this is not the first time he has managed to get Pakistan out of trouble in trying times. Since making his debut in 2022, he immediately stood out in the middle order after scoring 50s in 7 consecutive innings to start his career going past the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Basil Butcher, Saeed Ahmad, and Bert Sutcliffe.

From his debut Test to his most recent innings, Saud Shakeel has quickly established himself as Pakistan’s go-to player under pressure, showcasing an incredible knack for producing when it matters most.

Here are some of his acts of heroism:

• In his debut, Saud Shakeel walked in with Pakistan reeling at 25/2, and Azhar Ali retired hurt. His 76 in the fourth innings nearly saw Pakistan to an improbable 343 chase, only for the team to collapse from 259/5 to 268 all out, making his innings all the more valuable.
• By his second Test, Saud’s 63 held the innings together as he forged a vital 93-run stand with captain Babar Azam, steadying the ship from 51/2. His dismissal triggered a collapse, with Pakistan losing 6 wickets for 44 runs. Later, his resilient 94 in the fourth innings nearly clinched a 355-run target, falling short by just 26 runs.
• In his fifth Test, Saud notched his maiden century against New Zealand, scoring a fluent hundred after coming in at 99/3. In the second innings, with Pakistan in trouble at 80/5, Saud dug deep and partnered with Sarfaraz Ahmed for a 123-run stand, guiding Pakistan to a thrilling draw after nearly chasing 319.
• Saud’s finest hour came in his sixth Test against Sri Lanka. With Pakistan at 101/5, his outstanding 208* lifted Pakistan to 461, enough to win the match by 4 wickets. A composed 30 in the fourth innings sealed a successful chase, showcasing his grit and finishing prowess.
• Against Bangladesh, Saud was again a saviour, rescuing Pakistan from 16/3 with a masterful 141 as part of a massive 340-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan, stabilizing the innings when the team needed him most.
• Now, in the current Test, Saud Shakeel finds himself back in familiar territory, rebuilding Pakistan after the home side was struggling at 46/3, finishing with a magnificent 134 to put Pakistan on the brink of a historic series win.

If things stay on track, Pakistan will look back at his innings as the reason for their first test series win since 2023.

Stats Credits: Abhishek AB