'Babar fir bhi ise nahi khilayega, likh kar lelo' - Fans react as Saud Shakeel smashes quick knock of 75 runs in warm-up game against New Zealand

The star Pakistan middle-order batter Saud Shakeel got a chance to play in the first warm-up game of ODI World Cup 2023 for his side. Saud impressed everyone with his amazing batting display as he scored 75 runs off just 53 balls, hitting 5 fours and 4 sixes in the first innings, while Pakistan batted first after winning the toss.

Apart from that, he played a big part in two crucial partnerships; first, he stitched a 68-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan before the latter retired on the team’s total score of 238 runs. Later, Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman built an all-important partnership of 81 runs for the fourth wicket before the former’s brilliant knock ended by James Neesham in the 48^th over of the first innings.

On the back of Shakeel’s quick-fire following Mohammad Rizwan’s century (103 runs off 94 balls), alongside Babar Azam’s 80 runs, helped Pakistan to post a big total of 345 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

Mitchell Santner scalped two wickets for the Kiwis, alongside one wicket each claimed by Matt Henry, James Neesham, and Lockie Ferguson.

"He's now proving himself in ODI cricket too, he has got all shots." - Mohammad Rizwan on Saud Shakeel

Coming back to Saud Shakeel, he has been one of the top performers for Pakistan in Test cricket of late and now, he also displayed his class in the 50-over format. The star Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter and Shakeel’s senior teammate, Mohammad Rizwan also praised the 28-year-old for his amazing batting heroics, which is also a good sign for Pakistan ahead of the main round of the ODI World Cup 2023.

“Saud Shakeel is a wonderful batter; he has scored lots of runs in red-ball cricket in the last year or so. And he's now proving himself in ODI cricket too, he has got all shots,” said Mohammad Rizwan after the end of Pakistan’s innings in the ongoing warm-up match against New Zealand.

Here’s how fans reacted to the blistering knock played by Saud Shakeel:

Babar fir bhi ise nahi khilayega over ifthekar and salman..likh kar lelo

— Mighty_M (@Musayyab7) September 29, 2023

Well played Saud Shakeel.❤

— Mobitry (@Knowled18670679) September 29, 2023

Fifty for Saud Shakeel. Top class batting from classy batsman. #WorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/1tr9vq2PuF

— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888) September 29, 2023

Elegant, Outstanding, Fantastic, Incredible, Superb, Marvelous, Exceptional, Phenomenal, Impressive, Stunning SAUD SHAKEEL. It's criminal to bench him #PAKvNZpic.twitter.com/ZsTB0qsuSA

— KiranWho (@itx_kiranwho) September 29, 2023

This is exactly the kind of batting you need from your No. 4 or No. 5 batter' - huge praise from Sunil Gavaskar for Saud Shakeel ♥️♥️♥️ #WorldCup2023 #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/GRjlD41AUI

— Niaxi (@MuhammdNaveedA2) September 29, 2023

Saud Shakeel has to play ahead of Rizwan i.e at NO.4, if he is in the playing XI.

— S B (@SB2weets) September 29, 2023

Pure Class ❤❤



Solidity ,elegance, perfection . It's surely a criminal act to bench Saud Shakeel 🤌#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/AutvUE8VFh

— Saad Maqsood ‏سعـــــد مقصـــــــــود (@SaadMaqsud) September 29, 2023

Saud shakeel PSL me konsi team me tha ? PSL ki us team management par koi sawal uthaye ga k kiyon moka nahi diya gaya saud Shakeel ko ?#CWC2023#CWC23 #SaudShakeel #PSL #WarmUpMatch #PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/phJYPjr2aF

— Salman Siraj 🇵🇰 (@salman_siraj77) September 29, 2023

APPRECIATION TWEET FOR SAUD SHAKEEL, A BRILLIANT 75 OF JUST 53 BALLS🔥💯.#SaudShakeel #PAKvNZ #WorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/vAKDHo2DXa

— Mr Deni122 (@Mrdeni1234) September 29, 2023

OutclassBatting

Saud Shakeel ❤️#PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/dZ4NGJN9mg

— Saif Ur Rehman (@saifurrehman_23) September 29, 2023

Saud shakeel is a best decision of Babar Azam for this WORLD CUP#saudshakeel #CWC2023

— CRICKET CORNER (@Criccorner5) September 29, 2023