Rawalpindi: In a remarkable achievement, Pakistan's vice-captain, Saud Shakeel, has completed 1,000 runs in Test cricket, securing his position as the joint-fastest player to achieve this milestone.
This significant milestone was reached during the first Test against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi.
In the initial innings, Shakeel delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 141 runs in 261 balls. His innings was characterized by nine well-placed fours and a strike rate of 54.02.
As of now, Shakeel has accomplished this feat in 20 innings, tying with Saeed Ahmed for the fastest record in Test cricket. Both players have reached this milestone in 11 Tests and 20 innings.
Over the course of his career, Shakeel has amassed 1,108 runs at an average of 65.17, with a highest score of 208. He has also achieved three centuries and six fifties in his relatively short but promising Test career.
In the match, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. Following a challenging start at 16/3, including the dismissal of the top order, including the skipper Babar Azam for a duck, Shakeel, supported by Saim Ayub (56 in 98 balls, with four boundaries and a six), managed to bring Pakistan back on track with a 98 run partnership. This was followed by a 240-run partnership with Mohammed Rizwan (171* in 239 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes) and a brief cameo from Shaheen Shah Afridi (29* in 24 balls, with a four and two sixes), leading Pakistan to a substantial score of 448/6.
Hasan Mahmud (2/70) and Shoriful Islam (2/77) were the leading bowlers for Bangladesh, facing the challenge of overcoming this significant deficit to maintain their position in the match.
In the coming months, Pakistan will face England, West Indies, and South Africa in their upcoming Test matches.
At present, Pakistan is ranked sixth in the ICC World Test Championship table.
