Mohammad Amir: “Saud Shakeel opening has proven to be a positive addition”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir admitted that Saud Shakeel has proven to be a good opener following his superb performance in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Shakeel has mostly played as a middle order batsman and it is the role he holds in both the Pakistan Test and ODI teams.
However, the 28-year-old was given the chance to open the batting for the Quetta Gladiators in PSL 9 and didn’t waste his opportunity as he amassed 323 runs in 10 matches, which included two fifties, at an average of 35.88 and a strike-rate of 141.66.
“Saud Shakeel opening has proven to be a positive addition,” Amir told Geo News.
It should be noted that Shakeel has yet to make his T20I debut, but his brilliant batting in PSL 9 may convince the selectors that he is ready to break into the Pakistan team in the shortest format.
With the 2024 T20 World Cup scheduled to be played in June, the men in green will be finalising a core group of players that will get picked. With that in mind, it remains to be seen if Shakeel will get the chance to make his mark in T20I cricket.
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
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