'Considering him in league of Virat Kohli, Babar Azam': Kamran Akmal on Pakistan star averaging 87.50 in Tests

Add as a preferred source on Google

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has heaped rich praises on Saud Shakeel and has backed him to qualify in the league of Virat Kohli and Babar Azam in the next few years.

The comment from Kaman Akmal comes amid the stellar rise of the 27-year-old batter in Test cricket. The left-hand batter has played seven Test matches till date and scored 875 runs at an average of 87.50. He has hit two hundred and six fifties from his 13 innings so far.

He was in red-hot form during the 2-Test series against Sri Lanka, becoming the first player in 146-year history of Test cricket to register a fifty-plus score in each of his first seven Test matches.

“I am looking at Saud from a different angle. I am considering him in the league, which includes big names like Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, and other five to six players,” Akmal was quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

“He[Saud] should be reaching near these players in the next three to four years – given the performance he has showcased, particularly when the circumstances were difficult.

“So, this is a good sign for Pakistan cricket when any batsman displays excellent batting performance, that too at an early age in early Test cricket,” Akmal said.

The Karachi-born batter has also played five ODI games but managed to score just 67 runs at an average of 22.33 and a strike rate of 66.33. He has been picked for the 3-match ODI series against Afghanistan which starts from August 22 in Sri Lanka.