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Shoaib Akhtar Shares a Heartfelt Message for Saud Shakeel After His Double Century

image-lk9da9tgSaud Shakeel smashed a double ton on Day 3 | Source: AP Photo

Former Pakistan pacer and legend Shoaib Akhtar has lauded Saud Shakeel for his maiden double century in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Day 3 on Tuesday, July 18. Building on his scintillating century, Shakeel continued his batting rampage on Day 3 of the ongoing Test and notched up a magnificent double century, helping Pakistan go past the 400-run mark.

Following a breathtaking century, Shakeel became the first Pakistan batter to register a double hundred in Sri Lanka as Babar Azam and Co. posted a mammoth first innings total of 461 runs on Day 3 of the 1st Test. 

Akhtar, thoroughly impressed by Shakeel's batting heroics in the ongoing Sri Lanka series, took to Twitter to heap praise on the Pakistan batting sensation. 

"Shabash @saudshak. What an inning in such tough conditions & circumstances. First double hundred from a Pakistani in Sri Lanka," Shoaib Akhtar wrote in a tweet.

The 27-year-old notched up a 177-run partnership with Agha Salman (83 off 113) to pull Pakistan out of trouble. Shakeel then shared a 94-run stand with Naseem Shah (6 off 78) for the ninth wicket, taking the visitors into the lead. 

Shakeel smashed multiple records with his maiden double century. The Karachi-born registered his career-best score in Test cricket while he has also scored the most runs for Pakistan after 11 innings in the longest format of the game. 

Shakeel has amassed 788 runs for Pakistan in Test cricket. He remained unbeaten on 208 off 361 balls as his marathon knock propelled Pakistan to 461 in 121.2 overs, securing a 149-run first innings lead.