Who do you think should / will get the nod ? Personally hoping Shakeel gets the nod, he's a classy batsman and has a better record, plus being a left hander would mix things up vs the left arm spin of Keshav Maharaj
Saud Shakeel is probably one of the only batsmen in domestic cricket averaging 45+ who I can say has a very good technique. Like not often will you see him get out to a technical fault, it's usually a lapse in concentration or a lose shot, but hardly will you see him struggle against bowling. He's truly a good player in my opinion, and his solid technique is what we need from a No.3 batsman. You need to make sure that you don't give the opposition much to look at in terms of bowling, and that you capitalize when they bowl in your weak zones.
Look at Cheteshwar Pujara, the guy is a rock, his technique and temperament is phenomenal. He's a world class player, and if Saud Shakeel can improve his temperament, he can also reach that stage.
If there's one place I think Saud might have some trouble is with quick, short bowling targeted towards the chin, particularly from a right hander coming around the wicket. That's because I haven't really seem him be challenged with good bouncers and vicious short balls, which is something SA will look to do. The key with facing short-pitched bowling is to know when to leave and when to attack. Once you read the length, try to get out of the way and leave the ball, and if they mess up the length, cut/pull as you wish.
He's pretty good against spin bowling too, and the bowling of Maharaj shouldn't trouble him at all.
Therefore, I think Saud Shakeel is a better option, particularly because he can later be integrated into the ODI team as well in place of Haris Sohail.
