Pak vs SL: Pakistan's Saud Shakeel smashes world record

KARACHI: Pakistani batter Saud Shakeel Wednesday smashed a world record, becoming the only Test player to hit seven fifties in the same number of matches at the beginning of his career.

Shakeel achieved the feat as he hit a half-century against Sri Lanka during the second Test of a two-match series in Colombo.

Previously, India's Sunil Gavaskar, Pakistan's Saeed Ahmed, West Indies' Basil Butcher and New Zealand's Bert Sutcliffe scored half-centuries in the first six Tests of their career.

Shakeel also bagged the award for Player of the Match in the first Test, which Pakistan won by four wickets in Galle last week after he made a career-best 208 not out in the first innings.

The left-hander is also only the second Pakistan batter to hit a double ton in his first Test match away from home.