Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel creates history in Galle Test

Galle, The Gulf Observer: Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel created history during the first Test match in Galle, by becoming the first Pakistani batsman to achieve a double century on Sri Lankan soil.

His outstanding innings of 208 not out surpassed the previous highest individual Test score by Pakistani batter in Sri Lanka, held by Mohammad Hafeez (196) and Younis Khan (177).

This remarkable feat also made Saud Shakeel the 23rd Pakistani batsman to score a double century in Test cricket.

With his exceptional performance, Saud Shakeel now holds the record for the most runs (788) by a Pakistani batsman after just 11 Test innings. His run tally of 788* places him ahead of Abdullah Shafique (720) and Javed Miandad (654) in this category.

Furthermore, Saud Shakeel became only the second Pakistani batsman, following Zaheer Abbas against England in 1971, to achieve a double century in the first away Test match of a series. This accomplishment adds to his growing list of achievements.

Shakeel’s magnificent double century also marked a significant milestone for Pakistan cricket, breaking a drought that lasted over two years without a player achieving such a feat in Test matches. Prior to Shakeel’s double ton, Abid Ali was the last Pakistani batter to score a double hundred in Test cricket, accomplishing this remarkable feat on May 8, 2021, against Zimbabwe in Harare, where he remained unbeaten with a score of 215 runs.

In addition to his batting prowess, Saud Shakeel also joined an exclusive group of Test cricketers by scoring fifty or more runs in each of his first six matches. This puts him in the esteemed company of Sunil Gavaskar, Basil Butcher, Saeed Ahmad, and Bert Sutcliffe, making him the fifth player in cricket history to accomplish this remarkable feat.

If Saud Shakeel manages to score another fifty in his next Test match, he will set a new world record, further solidifying his place in Test cricket history.