Salman Ali Agha: “Saud Shakeel follows a unique process before a match – dinner and sleep by 9pm, breakfast at 6am, and he’s already heading to the team bus when we arrive”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Pakistan limited overs vice-captain Salman Ali Agha has revealed that middle order batsman Saud Shakeel sleeps by 9pm and has breakfast at 6am.

Shakeel has become one of Pakistan’s go-to batsmen in the middle order, especially in Test cricket, where he has done exceptionally well as of late.

The 29-year-old currently averages 50.24 in the longest format and has notched up four centuries and nine fifties in 19 matches.

Lately, he has been given the opportunity to play ODI cricket and during the tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, he finished with 23 runs in two games at an average of 11.50.

The Karachi native fared a lot better in the 2025 Champions Trophy, amassing 68 runs in two games, which included a top score 62, at an average of 34.

“Saud Shakeel follows a unique process before a match – dinner and sleep by 9pm, breakfast at 6am, and he’s already heading to the team bus when we arrive. Playing and performing consistently in domestic cricket makes it easier at the international level,” Salman said on the PCB Podcast as quoted by Geo Super.

Pakistan were knocked out in the group stage of the Champions Trophy after losing to New Zealand and India.

Their final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.

Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah

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