Saud Shakeel etched his name into the history books at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium this Friday, though perhaps not in the fashion he would have preferred. In a gripping conclusion to the opening Test match against Sri Lanka, the Pakistani middle-order stalwart became the protagonist of a rare, high-stakes narrative: the first player in 17 years to be dismissed in the “nervous nineties” in both innings of a single Test match.
While the result—a hard-fought draw—provided a much-needed stabilize for a Pakistan side navigating a turbulent World Test Championship cycle, it was Shakeel’s individual consistency that stole the headlines. After anchoring the first innings with a gritty 93, the left-hander returned in the second innings to produce a masterful 97, falling agonisingly short of a century on both occasions.
A Historic Hurdle in the Nineties
By falling for 97 in the second innings, Shakeel joined an exclusive, albeit bittersweet, club of cricketing history. He is now only the sixth batter to ever record scores in the 90s in both innings of a Test match. The list reads like a roll call of legends, spanning over a century of elite-level cricket.
The feat was first documented in 1902 when Australia’s Clem Hill registered scores of 98 and 97 against England in Adelaide. Following him into this unique record were Frank Woolley (1921), and the legendary Gordon Greenidge, who achieved the misfortune twice—in 1977 and 1980. The last player to find himself stranded on the wrong side of a hundred in both innings was Sri Lankan maestro Mahela Jayawardene, who tallied 92 and 96 against New Zealand back in 2009.
Shakeel’s performance brings an end to a 17-year drought for this specific statistical oddity, cementing his reputation as a batter with immense application, even if the final flourish of a triple-digit score narrowly eluded him.
The Resilience Behind the Resistance
The match itself served as a testament to Shakeel’s temperament. Batting on a surface that tested the patience of both sides, Shakeel faced a combined 210 deliveries across his two stays at the crease in the second innings alone. His ability to anchor the lineup allowed Pakistan to set a target of 272 runs, effectively neutralizing the threat of a Sri Lankan victory as the clock wound down on the final day.
When Lahiru Kumara finally found the edge of Shakeel’s blade, the crowd in Rawalpindi rose to applaud a display of pure technical proficiency. Despite the dismissal, his contribution ensured that Pakistan’s second innings reached 284/8, forcing the hand of the captains to shake hands and call for a draw before the final session could descend into further uncertainty.
Stabilizing the WTC Campaign
For Pakistan, the draw is more than just a statistical stalemate; it is a vital result in the context of their ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) campaign. Heading into this match, the side had struggled for stability, managing only two wins against seven defeats in their previous nine outings. This draw marks the first of the current cycle, offering a platform of consistency upon which captain and coach can look to build.
“It is a game of fine margins,” remarked cricket pundits following the close of play. “Shakeel’s twin performances highlight both his elite form and the thin line between a career-defining match and a record-breaking statistic.”
Looking Ahead to the Second Test
The drama is far from over. Following the completion of the first Test, the focus now pivots immediately to the second match of the series. Originally slated to take place in Lahore, the fixture has been shifted to the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium—the very same venue that hosted this week’s action—due to concerns regarding rising smog levels in the provincial capital.
The second Test, commencing next Tuesday, presents another opportunity for Shakeel to finally clear the hurdle that stopped him twice this week. If his current form is any indication, the century may not be far off. For now, however, he stands as the latest figure in a long line of cricketing greats to have mastered the art of the 90s, only to be denied the ultimate reward.
As the players retreat to the dressing rooms, the conversation remains centered on the sheer willpower displayed by Shakeel—a player who, despite missing two centuries, has undoubtedly bolstered his status as the backbone of Pakistan’s Test batting order. Whether he breaks the “nineties curse” in the next outing or continues his consistent run-scoring, his performance in Rawalpindi will remain one of the most intriguing statistical anomalies of the decade.
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