Rehan Ahmed: “We did try many things against Saud Shakeel but he was focused on his method and batted really, really well”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
England spinner Rehan Ahmed has applauded Pakistan batsman Saud Shakeel for the way he batted during the three-Test series.
Rehan noted that England tried “many things” to break Shakeel’s focus, but he kept scoring runs.
The leg-spinner was particularly impressed with the Pakistan Test vice-captain’s knock of 134 in the third Test in Rawalpindi as it proved to be crucial for the men in green.
Overall, Shakeel finished the series with 280 runs at an average of 56.
“We did try many things against Saud Shakeel but he was focused on his method and batted really, really well,” Rehan was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Shakeel wasn’t picked for the recent tour of Australia, where Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1 but lost the T20Is 3-0.
Instead, he has been playing for Karachi Region Whites in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and has amassed 168 runs in three games, which includes a top score of 120, at an average of 28.
Pakistan are now taking on Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series, which is level at 1-1 heading into the decider on November 28 in Bulawayo.
Once the ODIs are finished, they will play three T20Is, with the first match beginning on December 1 in Bulawayo.
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe T20I Series: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan