Saud Shakeel’s stellar performance in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle has garnered significant praise. The left-handed batter smashed a remarkable maiden double century, consisting of 19 boundaries, propelling the team to a total of 461 runs in the first innings.
Credit for Saud Shakeel’s improved batting skills has been attributed to Sarfaraz Ahmed by a former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official. Witnessing Sarfaraz closely mentoring Saud Shakeel and motivating him during his time on the bench, the official acknowledged Sarfaraz’s significant role in the young cricketer’s development, expressing his appreciation on Twitter.
Sarfaraz is one of the best mentors in the Pakistan team, a role he perfected in recent times when he led the side . Have heard quite few praise him for the way he handles and motivates the younger guys. Ibrahim confirming just that. https://t.co/CukMb7ldRr
— AmerCric 🏏 ✍️ (@Amermalik12) July 18, 2023
Renowned sports journalist also lauded the former captain for his mentoring abilities, emphasizing how Sarfaraz’s leadership skills have positively impacted emerging players. His nurturing approach and motivational prowess have earned him accolades from various quarters within the team.
Moreover, when Saud Shakeel reached an impressive 197 runs, he surpassed Mohammad Hafeez on the list of highest individual scores in Test cricket in Sri Lanka. Adding to his accomplishments, Saud Shakeel now holds the record for the most aggregate career runs by a Pakistani after just the first 11 innings of his Test career, further solidifying his impressive display on the cricket field.
