The Pakistan Super League has seen its fair share of slow innings, but one recent performance has sparked outrage among fans. Saud Shakeel, captain of Quetta Gladiators, scored just 33 runs off 40 balls against Karachi Kings, leaving his team struggling to keep up.
Karachi Kings had set a target of 176, and Quetta Gladiators were in trouble from the start. While Shakeel stayed at the crease for the full 20 overs, his slow scoring rate frustrated fans. His final tally was 33 not out, but the real issue was his strike rate – a sluggish 82.50.
A dubious record
Shakeel’s performance earned him a dubious distinction. He now holds the record for the slowest strike rate in PSL history for an innings lasting at least 40 balls. The previous record holder was Australia’s Matthew Wade, who scored at a rate of 97.87 against Multan Sultans in 2023.
Fellow cricketers have questioned the value of an innings like Shakeel’s. In T20 cricket, 40 runs is often considered a valuable contribution, but Shakeel’s slow pace made it harder for his team to chase down the target. Quetta Gladiators ultimately fell short.
Lessons from the past
Cricket is full of examples of slow innings. Back in 1975, Sunil Gavaskar scored just 36 runs off 174 balls against England in an ODI. While the context was different, the frustration was similar. Fans and teammates alike wonder what could have been if Shakeel had taken a more aggressive approach.
The backlash against Shakeel is a reminder that, in T20 cricket, every run counts – and so does the rate at which they’re scored.