Pakistan’s left-handed batsman Saud Shakeel endured a painful near-miss on Friday, falling just three runs short of what would have been his fifth Test century as the opening match against Sri Lanka concluded in a draw at Rawalpindi’s Pindi Stadium.
The experienced middle-order batsman, who had already scored 93 in Pakistan’s first innings, was dismissed for 97 in the second innings—a cruel repeat of falling in the nervous nineties. His departure triggered Pakistan’s declaration at 284-8, and within 25 minutes, both teams agreed to end the contest with handshakes all around.
Shakeel’s gritty knock formed the backbone of Pakistan’s second-innings effort. Facing 210 deliveries and striking seven boundaries, he demonstrated the patience and determination that has become his trademark. His innings included a crucial 92-run partnership with wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori, who contributed a solid 35 off 69 balls before falling to Milan Rathnayake.
The match had begun with Pakistan posting a competitive 434-9 declared in their first innings. Sri Lanka responded strongly, taking a slender 12-run lead by reaching 446 all out. Debutant Pakistani pacer Saqib Khan announced his arrival on the international stage with a dream performance, claiming seven wickets for 130 runs. His efforts earned him the man-of-the-match award. For Sri Lanka, captain Dhananjaya de Silva led from the front with 167, while Kusal Mendis added 119.
When Pakistan batted again, they resumed on day five at 57-1 but quickly lost overnight batsmen Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha without addition to their scores. Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando struck early blows, leaving Pakistan wobbling.
Former captain Babar Azam then joined Shakeel in a recovery mission, the pair adding 50 runs before Babar fell for a fluent 34 that included six boundaries. Rathnayake continued his impressive showing by also removing Agha Salman for 13, keeping Sri Lanka in the contest.
Lower-order batsman Arafat Minhas chipped in with 16, but ultimately the match drifted toward its inevitable conclusion as neither side could force a result.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson praised his team’s performance despite the draw, highlighting the contributions of several debutants. He singled out Tayyab Arif’s class at the top of the order, Mohammad Taha’s patience under pressure, Arafat Minhas’s half-century on debut, and Saqib Khan’s seven-wicket haul.
Hesson also defended Shakeel’s twin failures in the nineties with perspective. “If someone has a problem with scores in the 90s, I’m quite happy with that. I far prefer that to having a problem with scores in the tens,” the coach remarked.
The wicketkeeper Ghori also received special mention for his six catches and world-class glovework in only his second Test appearance.
Both teams will now turn their attention to the second Test, scheduled to begin on November 17 at the same Rawalpindi venue. The match was originally planned for Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium but was relocated due to severe smog conditions affecting the city—a recurring environmental challenge that continues to disrupt sporting events in Pakistan’s second-largest metropolis.
