Saud Shakeel: “I will play T20 for Pakistan as well”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan middle order batsman Saud Shakeel has vowed to get into the T20I team and represent his country in the shortest format.
Shakeel is already a key member of the Test side and has started being used more often in ODIs as well, signifying that he is close to cementing his spot in the squad.
However, the 28-year-old from Karachi has yet to make his T20I debut, which is something that he is keen to do in the near future.
“My desire is to also play T20 cricket along with adhering to its protocols and meeting its requirements. I will try to fulfil all the requirements of the game and strive to develop my game according to its protocols. Once I achieve that and work hard accordingly, I will play T20 for Pakistan as well,” he told Cricket Pakistan.
Shakeel was recently involved in Pakistan’s three-match Test series against Australia and made 92 runs at an average of 15.33.
The men in green then played a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which they lost 4-1.
With Shakeel now representing the Quetta Gladiators in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), he knows it is the perfect opportunity to land on the national selectors’ radar and break into the T20I team.
So far, he has amassed 140 runs in four matches, which includes a top score of 74, at an average of 35 and a strike-rate of 157.30.
Quetta Gladiators Squad for PSL 9: Rilee Rossouw (captain), Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Wasim, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Will Smeed, Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali, Usman Qadir, Omair Bin Yousuf, Adil Naz, Khawaja Nafay, Akeal Hosein, Sohail Khan, Laurie Evans, Bismillah Khan