A left-arm spinner with a round-arm delivery action, Shakeel Ahmed was called into the Pakistan side for the third Test against Australia at Karachi in 1998-99 at the age of 32. It was a gamble by the selectors, and one which didn't pay off. His performance was roundly criticised ("he will go without leaving a good impression," wrote Dawn) despite second-innings figures of 4 for 91. His call-up came after he took 10 wickets (including 7 for 71 in the second innings) for Rawalpindi against the Australians a fortnight earlier.
Martin Williamson