'This is the worst innings I have seen till now'- Saud Shakeel criticized brutally despite scoring a hundred in 2nd Test

Pakistan cricketer, Saud Shakeel notched his maiden Test ton on Tuesday on day 3 of the ongoing second Test match against New Zealand. Shakeel’s unbeaten 124 off 336 balls has helped Pakistan touch the 400-run mark in response to New Zealand’s 449-run total in the first innings.

Advertisment

However, the fans weren’t too impressed with his knock as he batted at a strike rate of less than 40 on a surface that was a paradise for batting. Shakeel batted rather slowly throughout the day even as his partners tried to bat a bit aggressively.

In the second session, Shakeel stitched a brilliant partnership with Sarfaraz. The duo added 113 runs at a run rate of more than 4 per over. However, it was Sarfaraz, who was looking to score runs at a decent pace, while Shakal was happy to consume as many deliveries as possible.

Sarfaraz Ahmed got out in the 100th over after playing another handy knock of 78 runs in 109 balls, including 10 fours. Once he departed, Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman played way too slow, something the fans weren’t too pleased of.

Advertisment

After tea, Saud Shakeel scored only 23 runs in 94 deliveries and, overalls, he let 66 balls out of 111 deliveries that were pitched outside the off stump. The duo added 53 runs in as many as 25 overs before Ajaz Patel finally accounted for the wicket of Agha Salman (41) to break the partnership.

Following Agha’s wicket, Pakistan saw a lower-order collapse as 4 wickets fell for just 12 runs. Overall, they only added 70 runs in 31 overs in the final session. Pakistan did manage to cross the 400-run mark but the fans criticized Saud Shakeel brutually for his slow knock.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions on the same:

Kon sa knock bc 300 balls py 100 run kon sa ter mar lia is ny sirf test drwa kr rha ha

— Tahir (@TahirARL786) January 4, 2023

Most worthless inning on a flat road. Such players play only for themselves not for the country. No intent even after 250 balls. Even waqar criticized him for that.

— Ankit (@JerryAnkitIN) January 4, 2023

Even Ashish Nehra will have 50+ average if he plays on such flat roads.

— 🚬Aa🚬 (@imaatmanirbhar) January 4, 2023

40 ke sr se kon khelta hai be ! Ye log pura draw karne mein lage hain!

— NRS (@nirmalya_raj8) January 4, 2023

This is the worst innings I have seen till now like this batting it will effect other batsmen to score runs at the end of the day he scored only 100 in 300+ Balls

— Yadagiri Kalluri Reddy (@Reddyadgiri) January 4, 2023

Saud Shakeel Please 1 Six Lga De Yaar
Itna Slow Kon Khelta Yaara
😞#PakVsNz

— A F Z A A L (@mafzaal_pk) January 4, 2023

Ye Saud Shakeel Boht Slow khela hy agr Wkt asan hy to phr Thora Tez khel skta tha #PakvsNZ

— Saifullah Malik (@Saifullah2075) January 4, 2023

Twitter is being saud shakeel, slow and hanged

— Syed Hamza (@Shamzaofficial) January 4, 2023

Saud shakeel damn slow .. wtf #PakVsNewzealand

— Shahadat hussain (@umshahadat) January 4, 2023

Why is saud shakeel playing in slow motion mode. Somebody wake him up

— B. (@aclockworkcutie) January 4, 2023

Boht hi slow Nahi khel Raha saud Shakeel😐

— Rabail 🤓 (@RabailShahid56) January 3, 2023

Saud Shakeel completed his century on 240 balls & now he's 108* off 286 balls, too defensive & slow.#SAUDShakeel #PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/RAygX5zt2x

— Tauqeer Mushtaq Ahmad (@TauqeerMushtaq1) January 4, 2023