Rawalpindi, November 13,2026: Pakistan and Sri Lanka played out a draw in the weather-affected opening Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday after the hosts declared their second innings at 284-8, extending their overall lead to 272 runs.
Experienced batter Saud Shakeel narrowly missed his fifth Test century, falling for 97 as Pakistan strengthened their position before both teams agreed to a draw.
Pakistan resumed their innings in the final session with Shakeel closing in on the three-figure mark. However, Lahiru Kumara ended his impressive knock by clean bowling the left-hander for 97 off 210 deliveries, including seven boundaries.
Razaullah remained unbeaten as Pakistan declared their second innings at 284-8, following which the two teams agreed to a draw.
Earlier, Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori continued Pakistan’s batting charge in the second session, building a crucial 92-run partnership that took the hosts’ overall lead beyond 200 runs.
Shakeel completed his 13th Test half-century, while Ghori provided valuable support before Milan Rathnayake broke the partnership by dismissing the latter for 35 off 69 balls, including three boundaries.
Arafat Minhas joined Shakeel and contributed to a 44-run stand, helping Pakistan cross the 250-run mark. However, Dhananjaya de Silva ended the partnership by dismissing Minhas for 16 off 29 deliveries, including three boundaries.
Pakistan had resumed day five at 57-1, holding a 45-run lead, but suffered an early top-order collapse. Azan Awais was dismissed for 22 by Lahiru Kumara, while Asitha Fernando removed Mohammad Taha for 24.
Babar Azam and Shakeel then added 50 runs for the fourth wicket before Rathnayake dismissed Babar for 34 and Salman Ali Agha for 13, reducing the hosts to 125-5.
Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka recovered from an early collapse to take a 12-run first-innings lead, despite a remarkable seven-wicket haul by Pakistan debutant Saqib Khan.
In reply to Pakistan’s first-innings total of 434-9 declared, Sri Lanka were reduced to 65-3 before Kamindu Mendis scored 58 and shared a 90-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva.
De Silva and captain Kusal Mendis subsequently put together a remarkable 249-run partnership, with both batters scoring centuries to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position.
Pakistan fought back on the fourth morning, bowling out the visitors for 446. Saqib was the standout performer with figures of 7-130, dismissing De Silva for 167, Kusal for 119 and three lower-order batters. Mohammad Abbas claimed two wickets, while Razaullah took one.
Batting first, Pakistan had declared their opening innings at 434-9, with five batters scoring half-centuries, including three debutants.
Shakeel top-scored with 93 off 199 deliveries, while Tayyab Arif contributed 57 off 51 balls. Arafat Minhas scored 52 off 72 deliveries, Mohammad Taha made 51 off 105, and captain Babar Azam added 50 off 58 balls.
