"Commendable initiative by the board to groom a junior player" - Sarfaraz Ahmed on Saud Shakeel’s appointment as vice-captain of Pakistan Test team
Former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed congratulated Saud Shakeel on being named the vice-captain of the Test team and hailed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their decision to groom a young player. On Wednesday, August 7, Pakistan announced a 17-member squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh.
The first game is scheduled to begin on August 21 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, while the second match will be played in Karachi from August 30 onwards.
Sarfaraz Ahmed is also in the 17-member squad. While speaking to reporters at the Islamabad Club Cricket Oval, the 37-year-old wicketkeeper-batter said (via Pakistan newspaper Dawn):
"First of all, congratulations to Saud. To be vice-captain of the national team is a huge honor. It’s a commendable initiative by the cricket board to groom such a junior player who has been leading at lower levels. Saud has been captaining since the U-19 level and has led Sindh to the T20 championship title."
Saud Shakeel, 28, made his Test debut in 2022 in a game against England. The left-handed batter has represented his nation in 10 Tests, scoring 967 runs at an average of 60.44, including two centuries.
Shakeel will be looking to continue his brilliant form in the upcoming series while having added responsibility on his shoulders.
"It’s a good sign that domestic performers are being valued" - Sarfaraz Ahmed hails PCB's move to promote young cricketers
In the same interview, Sarfraz Ahmed asserted that it was a good sign for Pakistan cricket that domestic performance has become the route to play for the senior team. He said:
“It’s a positive initiative that domestic performers and Pakistan Shaheens are getting opportunities. Some players have already made their place, and we hope that more will get their chance in the future. It’s a good sign that domestic performers are being valued and becoming part of Pakistan’s [senior] team."
Pakistan squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), and Shaheen Afridi.