Who is Saud Shakeel? Three records the Pakistan batter broke with 200 vs Sri Lanka

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Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel scored a brilliant double hundred against Sri Lanka in the first Test on Tuesday (July 18).

Shakeel came into bat at no. 5 and then played a brilliant inning against the Lankans. He remained unbeaten on 208 as Pakistan were bundled out for 461, registering a decent 149-run lead in the first innings.

Shakeel is known for his elegant batting and has been a serial performer in Pakistan's domestic circuit. The batter relies on timing and is known for picturesque shots across the ground.

Who is Saud Shakeel?

Saud Shakeel is a Pakistani batter who was born in Karachi. The 27-year-old has been a prolific performer in the domestic circuit and has scored runs across all formats. He made his ODI debut in 2021 against England and made Test debut last year against the same opposition.

Saud Shakeel Interesting Facts

• Saud Shakeel went viral on social media as Virat Kohli's look-alike after making his ODI debut. The resemblance of a bearded Shakeel with Kohli was quite uncanny and people joked about him as 'left-handed Kohli of Pakistan.'
  
  
• Shakeel scored a double century against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. This is Shakeel's first-ever double hundred in his career. And interestingly, the player never scored a double century before, not even in first-class cricket. His highest score in red ball cricket before today (July 18) was 187.
  
  
• Saud Shakeel revealed with an interview that Micheal Hussey was his favourite cricketer and he grew up making the Australian his role model. And apart from Hussey, former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Anwar is also someone whom Shakeel idolizes.

Records made by Saud Shakeel after double century vs Sri Lanka

Here is the list of records Saud Shakeel made after his remarkable 208 against Sri Lanka-

Highest-scoring Pakistani in Sri Lanka

Saud Shakeel became the first Pakistan player to score a double century on Sri Lankan soil. Before this, Mohammed Hafeez (196) and Younis Khan (177) had the highest individual scores against the Lankans in the Island country. He thus also became the 23rd Pakistani player to score a double hundred in Tests.

Rewrites five-decade-long record

Saud Shakeel also became the first Pakistani player to score a double century in the first Test of an away series. The last time it was done by a Pakistani player was Zaheer Abbas back in 1971 against England.

Best Pakistani Test batter

Saud Shakeel is now the highest scorer for Pakistan in Tests after 11 innings. Shakeel has 788 runs after 11 Test innings, comfortably ahead of previous record holder Abdullah Shafique who had 720 runs.

In his 11 innings, Shakeel has managed 5 fifties and 2 centuries including the latest one against Sri Lanka. His current Test average is also a jaw-dropping 98.5.