Pakistan debutants Arif and Taha score half-centuries in Rawalpindi Test

Opening Day Batting Performance

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first on the green-top pitch at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Tayyab Arif made a brisk fifty in just 51 balls with nine boundaries and one six. He formed an 86-run opening partnership with Azan Awais, who scored 30 runs off 50 deliveries. Mohammad Taha displayed patience by scoring 51 runs off 105 balls with six boundaries during his innings. Captain Babar Azam contributed a brisk fifty off 58 balls before being dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka. Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten on 57 runs while wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori scored seven at stumps.

Squad Expansion and Context

For the upcoming two-match series, the Pakistan Cricket Board selected pace-bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal along with three uncapped players for the squad. This move increased the team strength to 16 players ahead of the ICC World Test Championship cycle. Allrounder Arafat Minhas and pacer Saqib Khan also earned their maiden Test call-ups alongside Arif and Taha. The matches are part of the championship where Pakistan currently occupies the bottom position while Sri Lanka sits seventh. Bad light forced an early close after Pakistan batted for 67.2 overs on the opening day.

Sri Lanka Bowling Figures

Asitha Fernando claimed two wickets for Sri Lanka during the day including catching Azan Awais behind the stumps. He also found an edge off Tayyab Arif to dismiss him and give visitors some consolation points. Milan Rathnayaka took the first breakthrough when he caught Azan Awais behind by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis in the 16th over. For this match, Sri Lanka fielded four fast bowlers but lacked a primary spin option in their Test lineup.