ISLAMABAD
\nFormer Pakistan pace sensation Shoib Akhtar seemed quite excited Friday ahead of inaugural historic test between Australia and Pakistan, as the Kangaroos visited Pakistan after twenty-four long year.
\n\u201cVery happy to see test cricket of highest level in my city Rawalpindi. Going to be with you all welcoming Australia to our grounds\u201d Shoib Akhtar captioned video of him on his twitter account.
\n\u201cI am going to watch the match. It\u2019s been a long time. Last time, I played here but never came as spectator\u201d the Rawalpindi Express said in the video.
\n\u201cWhole nation is very happy. Thankyou Australia and Thankyou Pakistan Cricket Board for making such auspicious and huge series possible\u201d Shoib Akhtar added.
\nPakistan on Friday went head to head with Australia at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, in a historic test as team Australia visited Pakistan for a full-fledge series after 24 years.
\nPakistan 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.
\nPakistan 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.
\nLater, Pakistani batters Azhar Ali and Imam-ul-Haq dominated the whole day while Ausie bowlers were hit all around the ground.
\nPakistan 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.
\nImam-ul-Haq became talk of the town for scoring magnificent century ton, and remained not out at 132 (271). \u201cI 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\u201d Imam said after the play was ended.
\n\u201cI 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\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Former Pakistan pace sensation Shoib Akhtar seemed quite excited Friday ahead of inaugural historic test between Australia and Pakistan, as the Kangaroos visited Pakistan after twenty-four long year. \u201cVery happy to see test cricket of highest level in my city Rawalpindi. Going to be with you all welcoming Australia to our grounds\u201d Shoib Akhtar […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-247652","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n