Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Day 2: Pakistan Resume on 281/5
Pakistan will resume day two of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Tuesday on 281 for five, after four batters hit half-centuries on the opening day. Saud Shakeel is unbeaten on 57 and wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori is on seven, with play set to resume at 9:30am PKT at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Day one: four fifties for Pakistan
Captain Babar Azam and two debutants were among four batters to reach fifty as Pakistan posted 281 for five on Monday, November 9. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl on what looked like a green pitch, but the decision backfired as Pakistan’s batters cashed in.
Opener Tayyab Arif, playing his first Test, scored an impressive 57 off 51 balls, while Mohammad Taha, also on debut, made a patient 51. Babar hit 50, and Saud Shakeel carried the innings with an unbeaten 57 off 112 balls. The pair of debutants put Pakistan in control early, with Arif sharing an 86-run opening stand with Azan Awais, who made 30. Only 67.2 overs were possible before bad light ended play. For the full day-one report, read here: https://ntmnews.online/?p=4366
Sri Lanka’s bowlers toil
Asitha Fernando was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with two wickets for 64 runs, while Dilshan Madushanka, Milan Rathnayaka and Sonal Dinusha took one wicket each. Lahiru Kumara went wicketless despite bowling 16 overs for 70 runs. Sri Lanka will look for early wickets on the second morning to keep Pakistan’s total in check, with Salman Ali Agha the last wicket to fall, caught behind for 16 off Fernando.
Babar’s fifty came in his first Test as captain since his reappointment in July 2026, and he had spoken before the match about selection decisions resting with the selectors and coach rather than the captain. Read his pre-match comments here: https://ntmnews.online/?p=4288
What to expect on day two
Pakistan will aim to push past 400 and bat Sri Lanka out of the game, with Shakeel well set and the lower order to come. The pitch, which looked green on the first morning, is expected to ease out for batting before offering turn later in the match. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, need quick strikes with the second new ball to stay in the contest.
The first Test runs from November 9 to 13 in Rawalpindi, with the second and final Test scheduled in Lahore from November 17 to 21. The series is part of the World Test Championship, in which Pakistan sit ninth and last in the standings with a points percentage of 4.63, while Sri Lanka are seventh.
Series context
Pakistan reshuffled their squad less than 48 hours before the first Test, with Abdullah Fazal and Ali Usman dropping out and four players coming in, including three uncapped players. The fresh faces delivered immediately, with both debutants reaching fifty on the opening day. A strong result in this series would be a welcome boost for a side that has won only two of its nine World Test Championship matches so far.
Source: Gulf Times/AFP, Arab News, Cricbuzz, News18 — November 9, 2026