Historic Test
RAWALPINDI
History was made as Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat on the first day of first cricket Test against mighty Australia at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam after winning the toss said: “The pitch looks nice so we’ll try to put runs on the board.”
Cricket Stadium, in a historic test as team Australia visited Pakistan for a full-fledge series after 24 years.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam elected to bat first at the fresh Rawalpindi pitch after winning toss. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique struck shots all around the ground as the star Australian bowling line-up looked helpless in the first session on the first day of the first cricket Test, the one being played between the two teams on Pakistani soil after 24 years.
Pakistan were 105 for the loss of one wicket at lunch with Imam hitting a masterly 57 studded with eight boundaries and a six while Shafique was out after scoring 44 runs with the help of three fours and a towering six. He was caught by Pat Cummins off the bowling of spinner Lyon.
Later, Pakistani batters Azhar Ali and Imam-ul-Haq dominated the whole day while Ausie bowlers were hit all around the ground.
Pakistan managed to score a 245 at the loss of only Abdullah Shafique who went back to pavilion on 44 while senior batsman Azhar Ali scored a compact 64* of 165 balls.
Imam-ul-Haq became talk of the town for scoring magnificent century ton, and remained not out at 132 (271). “I cannot explain how I feel now. Coming back into the Test side, I wanted to make it count. I have been practicing hard in the last two and a half years. Special mention to the camp we had in Karachi” Imam said after the play was ended.
“I last played against Australia and then got injured against New Zealand. And then was the twelfth man for a long time. You need to keep working hard. You need to learn from your mistakes and never lose your belief. I have played against Lyon. He is a quality spinner. If you give him time, he will trouble you. I was trying to play with positive intent to put him on the back foot. We do have quality off spinners so I practiced hard against them to play Lyon. Really thankful to Australia team and management that they came here” he added.
