Pakistani rookie scores 57 in opening Test

Tayyab Arif compiled 57 runs in his Test debut, providing Pakistan with a commanding start against Sri Lanka in the first match of the series in Rawalpindi on Monday. The 20-year-old opened the innings and struck nine boundaries and one six in his knock.

Pakistan reached 137 for two at the lunch break. Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss on a greenish pitch and chose to bowl first. The visitors removed both opening batters in consecutive overs before the home team stabilized. Azan Awais scored 30 runs before being dismissed, and Arif followed him out shortly after.

Babar Azam remained unbeaten on 31 at the interval, sharing a stand with Mohammad Taha. Taha, another player making his debut, survived a close leg before wicket review against Milan Rathnayake. Rathnayake was the leading bowler for Sri Lanka, claiming one wicket for 18 runs in eight overs.

Arif accelerated early in the innings, pulling Asitha Fernando for a six over fine leg. He also played cover drives that helped Pakistan reach 86 for nothing in 16 overs. He completed his half-century off 46 balls with consecutive boundaries against Lahiru Kumara. Kumara was taken out of the attack after conceding 24 runs in his first four overs.

Mendis caught Awais behind the wickets off an inside edge in his third over. He then took a catch at the other end when Arif edged Fernando outside the line of the wicket. Pakistan fielded four debutants in the match, including spinning allrounder Arafat Minhas and fast bowler Saqib Khan.

Pakistan is currently at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings. The team has won only two of its nine matches in the current cycle. Sri Lanka sits at number seven in the rankings, having won one, drawn three, and lost two of its six Test matches this cycle.

Sri Lanka has spent more than a month in Pakistan, where it lost the T20 series and the ODI tri-series final to the hosts. The visitors recently chased down 430 runs against England at the same venue last month. Pakistan’s pace attack for the series includes veteran Mohammad Abbas, Razaullah, and Saqib Khan.