Saud Shakeel reflects on disappointing Champions One-Day Cup performance

Dolphins captain Saud Shakeel acknowledged his underwhelming performance in the Champions One Day Cup, emphasizing that even failures offer valuable lessons for improvement. 

Speaking to a loca news channel, Saud shared his thoughts on the team’s struggles, highlighting the challenges they faced in all three departments of the game, which resulted in their last-place finish in the tournament.

“We didn’t play the way we wanted to in any of the three aspects—batting, bowling, or fielding. But winning and losing is part of the game, and it’s important to learn from our mistakes,” Saud said. 

Reflecting on the tournament, Saud pointed out that the toss played a significant role in determining the outcomes.

“The toss was crucial. In all three matches, we ended up bowling first, which didn’t work in our favor. Additionally, some umpiring decisions went against us, which impacted our performance,” he explained.

The Dolphins captain revealed that there had been a strong focus on fitness before the start of the tournament, with all players clearing their fitness tests. Despite this, he feels that the team needs to work more on their physical conditioning.

“Perhaps the heat affected our energy levels. As professional players, we need to improve wherever we see room for it,” he added.

Saud praised the efforts of teammates Jahandad Khan, Akif, and Mir Hamza. He highlighted that Hamza, who is often viewed as a red-ball specialist, delivered impressive bowling performances in the tournament.

“The true test of a cricketer lies in long-format cricket, but anyone with solid first-class experience can excel in any format,” Saud concluded.