Shakeel made his international debut for Pakistan in ODI against England at Sophia Gardens on July 8, 2021. While Shakeel managed only five runs on his ODI debut, he grabbed everyone's attention on social media because he looked similar to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli.
Before playing international cricket at the senior level, Shakeel played for Pakistan U-19s. He represented the Boys in Green at the U-19 World Cup in 2014, where they finished runners-up after losing to South Africa U-19s in the final.
Pakistan U-19s opened their campaign at the mega event against India U-19s. The Boys in Green suffered a 40-run loss in that game. Shakeel bowled one over of left-arm spin, conceding six runs without taking any wickets.
While Shakeel has been one of the most consistent batters in Pakistan's domestic tournaments, his highest score in red-ball cricket before this game was 187*. Shakeel has an average of 50.05 in first-class cricket, with 16 centuries and 23 fifties to his name.
Former Australian batter Michael Hussey inspired many young left-handed batters with his game. In an interview with PakPassion.net, Shakeel revealed that he was a cricket crazy fan, with Hussey being his role model growing up.