Pakistan began their World Cup journey with a notable 81-run victory over the Netherlands on Friday.

The Men in Green posted a competitive total of 286 runs, featuring commendable performance from Saud Shakeel, who scored 68 and was adjudged player of the match for his innings.

During the post-match press presentation, Saud shared insights into his performance, stating, “I’ve been working hard on my game during the last 2-3 months. I knew I’ll be batting in this position for Pakistan, number 5, so I developed my game according to that. I tried to improve my shots, reverse sweeps, and attacking options. I tried to be brave to utilize my skills – that’s the main thing.”

Acknowledging the role of the coaching staff in his development, Saud expressed gratitude, saying, ” The coaching staff has given me confidence. I want to thank my coach Hanif Malik for helping me out. This one is for him.”