Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test: Pakistan’s fast bowler Saqib Khan did wonders with his brilliant bowling in the first innings on the fourth day of the first Test match being played against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Shakib, who was debuting in international cricket, took 7 wickets for 130 runs in 34 overs and made Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjay de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sonal Dishua, Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando his victims.
Shakib has become the second fast bowler of Pakistan and the fourth bowler overall, who has achieved the feat of taking 7 wickets in the debut match. Before him, only Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Nazir and Abrar Ahmed had done this.
Best bowling figures on Test debut (Pakistan)
7-66: Mohammad Zahid, against New Zealand, 1996
7-99: Mohammad Nazir against New Zealand, 1969
7-114: Abrar Ahmed, against England, 2022
7-130: Shakib Khan against Sri Lanka, 2026
In front of Shakib’s brilliant bowling, Sri Lanka’s first innings was reduced to 446 runs. At one time Sri Lanka’s score was 404 runs at the loss of 4 wickets, but then Shakib wreaked havoc and the next 6 wickets fell within just 42 runs.
For Sri Lanka, Dhananjay de Silva scored 167 runs and Kusal Mendis scored 119 runs, giving the team a lead of 12 runs in the first innings.
Earlier, Pakistan had declared its first innings after scoring 434 runs at the loss of 9 wickets. Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and captain Babar Azam scored half-centuries for the host team.