Rawalpindi, Nov 11:
Pakistan entered the record books on Wednesday during the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, becoming only the second team in Test cricket history to have three debutants score half-centuries in the same innings.
After Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl, Pakistan handed Test caps to Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Arafat Minhas, and Saqib Khan. Making an instant impression, Arif struck 57, Taha compiled 51, and Minhas chipped in with 52, propelling the hosts to a commanding first-innings total of 434 for 9 declared.
This historic feat matches a rare 34-year-old mark set by Zimbabwe against India in 1992, when debutants Grant Flower (82), Dave Houghton (121), and Andy Flower (59) all scored fifty-plus runs in their nation’s inaugural Test match in Harare. In response, Sri Lanka were 133 for 3 at stumps on the opening day.