PAK vs SL: Saud Shakeel Dedicates His Player Of The Match Award To His Coach Hanif Malik

Young Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel expressed gratitude towards the coaching staff for their contribution to his development. Saud Shakeel highlighted that he has been focused on improving his game in anticipation of batting at No. 5 for Pakistan in the World Cup 2023.

Saud Shakeel played a brilliant knock on his World Cup debut against the Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday, October 6. The left-handed batter smashed the second-fastest half-century for the team in the history of the ODI World Cup, reaching his fifty in just 32 balls.

I Tried To Improve My Shots – Saud Shakeel

During the post-match press conference, Saud Shakeel emphasized that he worked on improving his game by developing various shots, including reverse sweeps and attacking options.

“I’ve been working hard on my game during the last 2-3 months. I knew I’ll be batting in this position for Pakistan, number 5, so I developed my game according to that. I tried to improve my shots, reverse sweeps, and attacking options. I tried to be brave to utilize my skills – that’s the main thing,” Saud told reporters.

Shakeel came in to bat during the powerplay when the team was in trouble at a score of 38/3. The southpaw steadied the innings with a crucial 120-run partnership. He was dismissed by Aryan Dutt after scoring 68 runs off 75 balls, including 9 fours and a six.

The Coaching Staff Has Given Me Confidence – Saud Shakeel

The 28-year-old was awarded Player of the Match for his performance in rescuing the team from a challenging situation. Shakeel dedicated his award to his coach Hanif Malik, emphasizing the coach’s support and guidance.

“The coaching staff has given me confidence. I want to thank my coach Hanif Malik for helping me out. This one is for him,” he further added.

The Babar Azam-led team won their World Cup with a convincing 81-run victory over the Netherlands. The Men in Green gained two crucial points and moved to second place in the 10-team table. They will face Sri Lanka in their next game at the same venue on October 10.

Also read: Twitter Reacts As Bas de Leede’s Efforts Go In Vain And Saud Shakeel Shine In Pakistan’s 81-Run Win Over Netherlands In WC 2023