Leeds, August 19, 2026: Pakistan opener Azan Awais endured a nightmare start to his Test career on Wednesday, becoming only the second Pakistani batter to be dismissed off the first ball of a Test match during the opening Test against England at Headingley.
England captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to bowl, with the decision paying immediate dividends as Ollie Robinson struck with the very first delivery of Pakistan’s innings.
Bowling from around the wicket, Robinson produced a sharp delivery that jagged back into Awais and struck him on the pads. The umpire immediately raised his finger, prompting Pakistan to review the decision.
The review confirmed the lbw dismissal, leaving Pakistan without a wicket and a review after just one delivery.
Awais’s dismissal was only the second instance in Pakistan’s Test history of a batter being dismissed from the first delivery of a match.
The previous occurrence came in 1983, when Pakistan opener Mohsin Khan was trapped lbw by India’s Kapil Dev with the opening ball of a Test in Jalandhar.
The early setback added further pressure on Pakistan in a series already marked by uncertainty, with Babar Azam ruled out of the opening Test due to a finger injury and Salman Ali Agha taking over as captain.
