A rumbustious left-handed batsman and a slow left-arm spin bowler, Saeed made his first-class debut in 1986-87 and went through the grind of under 19 matches, later playing with great authority for Karachi, United Bank, and ADBP. Attacking and enterprising, he became one of the most entertaining and successful batsmen for Pakistan in one-day matches and late developed into highly responsible opening batsman in Test cricket. A brilliant fielder near the Wicket or in the outfield, he has the ability to destroy pace or spin with equal ease. He came into the limelight against the 1988 Australians by scoring 127 not out from NWFP Governor's XI at Peshawar in his first appearance against an international team. He had been taken to Australia for the World Series Cup, he made his one-day debut against West Indies at Perth in 1988-89 where he did not make much impression. He was sent back home to play against Sri Lanka under-25 and scored heavily. His 42 in Pakistan's seven-run win at Gujranwala in the 2nd one-day against India earned him the Man of the Match award.

Saeed toured Australia again in 1989-90 and batted magnificently in the World Series Cup. Against Sri Lanka he hammered a century in 99 balls at Adelaide, sharing a record 202 runs opening stand with Ramiz Raja. He finished the home season in 1989-90 making 1,082 runs (67.62) including five centuries and three fifties and later was proud member of the Australasia Cup winning team in Sharjah. He won his first Test cap against the West Indies in the second Test at Faisalabad, making a pair, and was ignored for the tour of England in 1992. He bounced back to regain to his place for the 1993-94 tour of New Zealand and made his maiden Test century (169) in the second Test at Wellington, adding 197 for the third wicket with Basit Ali. On the Sri Lankan tour in 1994 he made another Test century. A landmark in his life todate a remarkable world record in one-day international against India in Independence Cup at Madras of scoring 194 runs.