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Bangladesh's fast bowlers capitalised on the favorable conditions offered by the green wicket, reducing Pakistan to 16/3 early on Day 1 of the first Test. However, half-centuries from Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel helped Pakistan recover to 158/4 at the close of the first day's play. While Saim Ayub scored a brilliant 56, Saud Shakeel cracked an unbeaten 57 to steady Pakistan's boat.
Saud Shakeel achieves historic milestone
Shakeel not only rescued Pakistan from a precarious position but also scripted history. Shakeel made an immediate impact on the first day of the Test match, scoring 57 runs from 92 balls. This impressive knock earned him a place in the history books as he became the joint-fastest player to reach 1000 Test runs for Pakistan. Entering the match, Shakeel needed only 33 runs to achieve this milestone. With his 46-run knock, he equaled a 65-year-old record set by Saeed Ahmed in 1959. Ahmed had also reached 1000 Test runs in his 20th innings, against Australia in the third Test at Karachi.
Shakeel, who made his Test debut in 2022, had scored 967 runs in 19 innings prior to this match. His impressive record includes two centuries and six fifties, including a double century against Sri Lanka in Galle last year.
A look at the list of fastest Pakistani players to reach 1000 Test runs
20 - Saeed Ahmed
20- Saud Shakeel
22 - Sadiq Mohammad
23 - Javed Miandad
Pakistan survive early batting collapse
The Pakistani top order was caught off guard by the early aggression displayed by Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud. As a result, they lost wickets in quick succession, with the top order, including Captain Shan Masood and star batter Babar Azam, dismissed within the first 10 overs. Masood's dismissal sparked a brief controversy. After a successful DRS review by Bangladesh, the on-field umpire's decision was overturned, resulting in Masood's dismissal. The Pakistani captain was visibly upset by the decision and engaged in a heated discussion with the umpires.
The Bangladesh bowlers continued their momentum, dismissing Babar Azam, who recorded his eighth duck in Test cricket. This early collapse put significant pressure on the Pakistani batting lineup.
The hosts found themselves under pressure and desperately needed a strong partnership to shift the momentum. Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel stepped up to the challenge, forming a crucial 98-run stand that helped stabilize the innings. Ayub reached his maiden Test fifty but, despite his impressive form, could not convert it into a larger score and was dismissed for 56 runs off 98 balls. After Ayub’s departure, Shakeel was joined by Mohammed Rizwan. Together, they continued to advance the scoreboard and ensured that no more wickets fell by the close of play on Day 1. At stumps, Pakistan's score stood at 158/4. Saud Shakeel had also completed his fifty and was unbeaten at 57 runs off 92 balls. Rizwan, at the other end, was on 24 runs from 31 balls. Both will resume their innings on Day 2, aiming to build a substantial total and put Pakistan in a strong position in their first innings.
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