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'My Plan Was…': Saud Shakeel Reflects on His Match-Winning Efforts Vs Netherlands

image-lnfmzxzlShakeel was the star performer for his team against the Netherlands. (ICC)

After bagging the player of the match award in his debut World Cup game, Saud Shakeel detailed his game plan that led to his success against the Netherlands bowlers. 

Identifying specific bowlers from the Netherlands as potential targets, Saud executed a strategy of calculated risks to make a significant contribution to Pakistan's innings.

In Pakistan's opening match of the 2023 World Cup against the Netherlands, the team faced early setbacks, losing three wickets in the first 10 overs with a score of 38/3. Mohammad Rizwan (68) and Saud Shakeel then orchestrated a vital partnership of 120 runs for the fourth wicket. Saud Shakeel, the more aggressive of the duo, blazed to 68 from 52 balls, boasting a strike rate of 130.77. His innings included nine boundaries and a maximum. 

This middle-order resurgence, combined with resistance from the lower order, propelled Pakistan to a formidable total of 286. Despite Bas de Leede and Vikramjit Singh's half-centuries, the Netherlands could only manage 205 runs in response, resulting in a convincing 81-run victory for Pakistan.

Here's what Saud Shakeel said at the post-match presser

"The wicket was not easy to bat on earlier in the match. So that's why we lost some early wickets. It's all about team effort. I think when the top-order batsmen don’t get runs, it becomes our duty to score runs. That's how things happe. Rizwan Bhai's role was to go long, but my plan was simple. I had focused on a few bowlers of the Netherlands and decided to take a chance against them."

Shakeel appears to be a dependable middle-order batter for Pakistan, showcasing both skill and temperament, making him an asset in high-pressure situations. His exceptional performance in longer formats of the game adds to his credibility.

Shakeel's return to the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series in August 2023 marked the beginning of his resurgence. Although he didn't feature in the playing XI during the Asia Cup, his impressive 75-run innings in a warm-up match against New Zealand strengthened his case for inclusion in the starting lineup against the Netherlands.