Saud Shakeel can reach level of Babar, Virat: Kamran Akmal

Double century, consecutive half-centuries, and a massive jump in rankings - some of the feats that Pakistan right-handed batter Saud Shakeel achieved during the Test series against Sri Lanka. 

Former Pakistan cricketer, Kamran Akmal, has heaped praise on Saud for his outstanding performance in challenging circumstances. 

Akmal compared Saud's potential to cricket's big names, such as Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, asserting that the young batsman has the potential to reach their level in the next three to four years.

"I am looking at Saud from a different angle. I am considering him in the league, which includes big names like Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, and other five to six players. He[Saud] should be reaching near these players in the next three to four years - given the performance he has showcased, particularly when the circumstances were difficult. So, this is a good sign for Pakistan cricket when any batsman displays excellent batting performance, that too at an early age in early Test cricket," Akmal said.

The 27-year-old scored a 208-run unbeaten knock in Galle Test. After that, in Colombo Test, he brought up his seventh half-century - a feat that made Saud the first batter in Test history to score a fifty in each of the first seven Tests.