Babar Azam hails double centurion Shakeel as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka

Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel celebrates his double century v Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Pic/AFP; (Inset) Babar Azam

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said on Thursday his team's latest Test hero Saud Shakeel had stepped up his game and showcased new shots in his match-winning unbeaten 208 against Sri Lanka.

The visitors won the first Test in Galle by four wickets after opener Imam-ul-Haq hit an unbeaten 50 to anchor a tricky chase of 131 on the final day to lead the two-match series 1-0. But left-handed batsman Shakeel was the star after his maiden Test double century powered Pakistan to 461 all out and a handy first-innings lead of 149.

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His 177-run partnership with Agha Salman, who hit 83, helped Pakistan bounce back from 101-5 in their reply to Sri Lanka's 312. "Saud has improved a lot. He has been working hard after the New Zealand series," Azam said of the man of the match.

"He attended two camps in Lahore and Karachi. I spoke with him and he told me he had developed a few shots which he applied in this innings. As captain, I am very satisfied with his performance. When he came to bat, we had lost four wickets and Saud and Salman built the partnership."

Shakeel looked assured in his stroke-making in his marathon knock and then a cameo of 30 on the fifth day.

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