As Pakistan selectors made several changes to their T20I and ODI squads for New Zealand tour after ICC Champions Trophy 2025 exit, Saud Shakeel did not find his name in the side. Shakeel scored a half-century against India in the Champions Trophy 2025 clash in Dubai but was not impressive against New Zealand in group stage matches. Recently, he made headlines for getting timed out in Pakistan's President Trophy final. Following the incident, Shakeel made a mark in the National T20 Cup opener with a match-winning 76-run knock for Karachi Region Whites against Islamabad Region on March 14.
Karachi's captain Shakeel won the toss and opted to bat first. He opened the innings. His opening partner Khawaja Nafay was dismissed lbw for a two-ball duck by Umair Afridi. Shakeel shared a 52-run partnership for the second wicket with Khurram Manzoor who scored 29 runs from 17 balls including a four and a six. Shan Masood and Mohammad Taha could not score quickly in the middle overs and departed for single-digit scores. Shakeel's 76 off 50 balls was laced with nine fours and a six. Danish Aziz contributed with a run-a-ball 12. Wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig's unbeatne 12-ball 18 and Saqib Khan's boundary helped Karachi post a par total of 159/6.
Mohammad Umar struck early with the new ball dismissing opener Shamyl Hussain and Nasserullah. Then Danish dismissed captain Rohail Nazir whereas Saqib got rid of Sarmad Bhatti. Islamabad lost four wickets for just 27 runs. Opener Ali Imran tried to anchor the run chase. He was knocked over by Arif Yaqoob. Islamabad lost half the side for 63. In the 14th over, rain interrupted play. Islamabad were 73 for 5 after 13.1 overs. The play could not resume and Karachi won the match by 30 runs as per D/L method. Hammad Siddique remained not out for 25 off 22 balls.
Shakeel's statistics
Shakeel is yet to make his T20I debut. He completed 1,000 runs in T20s (domestic and franchise cricket). He has played 19 ODIs so far and scored 408 runs. With the ball, he has just one wicket.
Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I opener
After the Champions Trophy 2025 debacle, Pakistan will be up against a second-string New Zealand side in the five-T20I series starting March 16 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Prominent players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah are missing from the T20I squad led by Agha Salman.