Pakistan completed a 3-0 white-wash over Afghanistan in the recent ODI series after winning the third and final match by 59 runs. However, it was Pak captain Babar Azam who made the headlines on Saturday during the toss.

After winning the toss, Babar was asked what the team's news would be for the day. In response to the question, when he revealed the four changes, Babar accidentally said, "Saud Shakeel is making his debut today.”  

However, Shakeel had played five ODIs before, and it was Babar who gave the left-hander his maiden ODI cap, when the batter played his maiden ODI against England at Cardiff in July 2021.

He had also hit his maiden fifty in the format at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Thereafter, he played two ODIs against Australia in Lahore before again being left out.

Meanwhile, after the match ended, Babar Azam was asked about the Saud Shakeel gaffe by presenter Ramiz Raja during the post-match presentation and the skipper laughed in reaction and admitted that he forgot Shakeel had previously played for Pakistan in ODIs.

“I forgot Saud Shakeel had played before. I asked Saud and he said it was not his debut. Sorry for that!” Babar said in the post-match presentation ceremony while speaking to Ramiz Raja.  

Shakeel made his comeback against Afghanistan and performed admirably, and Babar lauded him for playing quality spin-bowling with a lot of efficiency.