Just 6th overall and 1st in Pak's history: Saud joins rare Test batting record list
Saud Shakeel scored 93 in Pakistan's first innings and 97 in the second, falling just three runs short of a century. His twin 90‑plus scores placed him sixth worldwide and made him the first Pakistani to achieve the feat in Test cricket.
In the fourth Test of the series against Sri Lanka, left‑handed batsman Saud Shakeel opened the innings and contributed a solid 93 runs to Pakistan's first‑innings total of 434 for 9 declared. He spent most of the fifth and final day at the crease in the second innings, facing 210 deliveries before being dismissed by Sri Lanka's fast bowler Lahiru Kumara. The dismissal left Shakeel just three runs shy of a personal milestone, ending his second‑innings knock at 97.
Shakeel's performance joins a very short list of players who have recorded scores of 90 or more in both innings of a Test match. Only five cricketers worldwide have previously managed this rare achievement, making Shakeel the sixth overall and the first from Pakistan to do so. The record highlights a level of consistency and concentration that is difficult to sustain over the course of a five‑day match, especially against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack.
The Pakistani cricket community has praised Shakeel's resilience and technical skill, noting that his near‑century could inspire younger players to aim for similar consistency. Team officials emphasized that the innings will boost confidence ahead of the upcoming series against England, where the batting order will be under pressure to produce big scores. Observers will watch how Shakeel builds on this performance and whether he can convert the near‑century into a full hundred in future Tests.
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