Saud Shakeel Becomes First Pakistani Cricketer to Be Timed Out in First-Class Cricket Amid Unusual Night Test in Rawalpindi

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The 2025 Pakistan President's Cup witnessed an extraordinary moment in cricket history when Saud Shakeel became the first Pakistani cricketer to be dismissed 'Timed Out' in first-class cricket.

The incident occurred during a pink-ball match between the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Pakistan Television (PT) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

What made the event even more unique was the match's schedule-played entirely under lights from 7:30 PM to 2:30 AM-to accommodate players observing fasts during the holy month of Ramadan.

Shakeel, who was part of Pakistan's squad in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, found himself in a rare situation as he failed to arrive at the crease within the allotted three minutes after the fall of a wicket.

Initially, speculation suggested he had dozed off during the match, but an ESPN Cricinfo report clarified that he was simply unprepared for his turn at the crease following an unexpected batting collapse. This dismissal made him only the seventh player in first-class history to be given out in this fashion.

The unusual turn of events came amid a dramatic spell from Muhammad Shahzad, who secured a hat trick in rapid succession. The sequence began with SBP captain Umar Amin falling for six runs, followed by Fawad Alam's golden duck.

Shakeel was next in line to bat, but his delayed arrival meant he was ruled out without facing a single delivery. Shahzad capitalized on the chaos, dismissing Irfan Khan on the very next ball, leaving SBP reeling with four wickets lost in just three deliveries.

Shakeel's dismissal reignited discussions around the rarely seen 'Timed Out' rule, which had previously made headlines during the 2023 ODI World Cup when Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews was controversially given out against Bangladesh.

Australian cricketer Tom O'Connell also experienced a 'Timed Out' dismissal during a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25 match between Chittagong Kings and Khulna Tigers. However, in a remarkable display of sportsmanship, Khulna Tigers' captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz intervened and allowed him to continue his innings.