'I was not asleep' - Saud Shakeel breaks silence on timed-out controversy

Pakistan Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel has said that the reports alleging that he was asleep in the dressing room when given timed-out during the final match of the President's Cup are completely false.

Speaking exclusively toNukta, the left-hander revealed that he was instead occupied in the washroom due to which he could not reach the crease on time and was declared out.

The incident led its way to the history books as Saud became the first Pakistani cricketer ever to be dismissed for being timed-out. “I will try not to make such a mistake in the future,” he said during a Quetta Gladiators’ brand event on Monday.

Saud has been appointed as the captain by the Quetta Gladiators management for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season ten. The left-handed batsman is yet to make his debut for Pakistan in T20Is but has represented the country in 19 ODIs and Tests each.

Regarding Pakistan team’s performance in the recently-concluded Champions Trophy, Saud said that it was poor due to which the Pakistan team could not make it to the semi-finals of the event. “I know that the Pakistani fans are disappointed and angry at the poor performance of the national players,” he said.

However, he expressed his best wishes for the national team in their upcoming tour of New Zealand, scheduled to start from March 16.

Saud was dropped from the current squad named on March 04 despite being the team's highest scorer (62) in their last match against India in Dubai.

Responding to a question, the 29-year-old said that he will also lead the Karachi Whites team in the National T20 Cup. While former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has also been included in the squad.

The National T20 Cup will start from April 14 in Faisalabad, Lahore and Multan, in which 18 teams from 16 regions will participate.

The opening match between Karachi Whites and Islamabad Region will be held in Faisalabad. The total prize money of the event is Rs 9.4 million.