Pakistan batsman Saud Shakeel: “Alongside batting, I am working on my bowling as well. Bowling along with batting helps balance the team and adds value to the player’s overall role”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Saud Shakeel is determined to have a larger all-round impact when representing his country, which is why he has started working on his left-arm spin bowling as well.
He noted that if he were able to transform himself from a middle order batsman to an all-rounder, he would bring greater value as a player.
Currently, Shakeel is a key member of the Pakistan Test team as he averages 50.24 in the format and has brought much-needed stability to the middle order.
“Alongside batting, I am working on my bowling as well. Bowling along with batting helps balance the team and adds value to the player’s overall role,” the 29-year-old from Karachi told the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as quoted by Geo Super.
Recently, Shakeel was in action in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he captained the Quetta Gladiators.
In the 12 matches he played, he accumulated 237 runs, which included a top score of 59, at an average of 26.33 and a strike-rate of 117.32.
He also took four wickets at an average of 19.25 and an economy rate of 7.70.
After the completion of PSL 10, Shakeel was not picked for Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore, the T20I tour of Bangladesh, and the limited overs tour of the West Indies.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in Sharjah, which will take place from August 29 to September 7.
After that, the men in green will be involved in the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be played in the UAE from September 9 to 28.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem