Saud Shakeel secures legendary status in Pakistan Cricket with historic Test milestone

Pakistan’s Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel has been on fire in the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. After finishing rain-hit Day 1 with an unbeaten 57, the batter has reached his century on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test.

On Day 1 of the ongoing first Test, Saud Shakeel achieved a historic milestone by crossing 1,000 Test runs, making him the joint-fastest Pakistani cricketer to reach the feat on Wednesday, August 21. Shakeel needed only 33 runs against Bangladesh to reach the 1,000-run milestone in Tests.

Saud Shakeel becomes joint-fastest Pakistani to 1,000 Test runs

Well, the newly appointed vice-captain Saud Shakeel scripted history in style on the opening day, where he remained unbeaten at 57 runs from 92 balls against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. With this unbeaten knock, the left-handed batter equaled the 65-year-old record by becoming the joint-fastest player in history to reach 1,000 Test runs for Pakistan.

The 28-year-old Karachi batter achieved this milestone in his 20th inning during his 11th Test, matching Saeed Ahmed for the fastest to 1,000 Test runs for Pakistan, surpassing legends like Javed Miandad and Sadiq Mohammad. Ahmed reached 1,000 runs in his 11th Test during the Pakistan versus Australia Test in Karachi in December 1959.

Mohammad (22 innings), Miandad (23 innings), and Taufeeq Umar (24 innings) are next on the list among Pakistan players. During the course of his knock, Shakeel also became the player with the most runs for Pakistan in the first 20 innings of Test cricket. He has now over 1100 Test runs with the help of three centuries and six fifties to his name at an average of over 64.

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Sir Donald Bradman holds the record for fastest to 1,000 Test runs

Meanwhile, the overall record for the fastest to reach 1,000 Test runs belongs to Sir Donald Bradman, who achieved this milestone in just his 7th Test match against England in Leeds in 1930.

For the fewest innings to reach 1,000 Test runs, the record is shared by England's Herbert Sutcliffe and the West Indies' Everton Weekes. Both Sutcliffe and Weekes achieved this feat in the 12th inning of their respective 9th Test match.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismisses Saud Shakeel with a stunning delivery in the Rawalpindi Test

Notably, Saud Shakeel played an incredible knock of 141 runs off 261 balls laced with 9 fours in the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. His memorable innings were ended by Bangladesh spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test on Thursday in Rawalpindi.

Miraz struck for Bangladesh on Day 2 with a crucial wicket. The star spinner delivered a well-executed ball that turned away from Shakeel, drawing him forward. The Pakistani batter, unable to get his toes behind the line, was stumped by Litton Das, who swiftly removed the bails.

Miraz’s precise delivery caught Shakeel off balance, as he missed the shot, leading to his dismissal. Shakeel returned to the pavilion with a standing ovation as his sensational knock bailed the hosts out of the precarious position in the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh.