Pakistan made a confident start to the opening Test against Sri Lanka, reaching 74 without loss on the first day at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, as four players made their Test debuts for the national side.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Sri Lanka struggled to make an early breakthrough as Pakistan’s opening pair built a steady partnership.
Debutant Tayyab Arif was unbeaten on 43, while Azan Awais was batting on 30 as Pakistan reached 74 without losing a wicket.
The opening day marked the beginning of a new chapter for four Pakistan players, with Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Arafat Minhas and Saqib Khan receiving their Test caps.
Saqib Khan’s Journey
For fast bowler Saqib Khan, making his Test debut represented the culmination of a journey that began with a different sport.
He revealed that he initially played table tennis and occasionally hard-ball cricket before his father encouraged him to focus on cricket.
“I used to play table tennis and sometimes hardball as well. One day, my father asked me to play cricket,” Saqib said.
He credited his family, particularly his father and elder brother Bilal Naeem, for supporting him throughout his career.
Recalling the emotional reaction to his selection in the Pakistan team, Saqib said his mother and father were both deeply moved.
“When I came into the Pakistan team, I told them that my mother was crying a lot. My father was also crying,” he said.
Tayyab Arif’s Cricket Dream
Opening batter Tayyab Arif also spoke about his family’s influence on his cricketing career, saying the sport was a shared passion at home.
“There was a lot of craze for cricket at home. My family, my cousins and especially my father were very fond of cricket. So I started playing cricket from home,” he said.
Tayyab began playing hard-ball cricket at the age of 12 before joining Jaguars Cricket Club.
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He credited coach Faisal Naveed for helping him develop as a player and progress through the age-group cricket system.
Speaking about his Test debut, Tayyab said representing Pakistan in the longest format had always been a dream.
“Obviously, everyone dreams of representing Pakistan, especially in Test cricket. I was a little emotional, especially my father,” he said.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka Squads
Both teams entered the opening Test with the following line-ups:
Pakistan: Azan Awais, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Babar Azam (captain), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Arafat Minhas, Razaullah, Mohammad Abbas and Saqib Khan.
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (captain), Lahiru Udara (wicketkeeper), Passindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Milan Rathnayaka, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.
