Pakistan captain Babar Azam has expressed concern over middle-order batter Saud Shakeel’s repeated failures to convert scores in the nineties into centuries, commonly known as the “nervous nineties”. Speaking after the first Test against Sri Lanka ended in a draw in Rawalpindi, Babar said he was concerned about Saud’s repeated dismissals close to the century mark and that the team was working to address the issue.
Saud once again missed out on a century in the second innings, scoring 97 runs before returning to the pavilion, just three runs short of the milestone. Babar also praised debutant Saqib Khan for his impressive bowling performance, saying the youngster made a strong impression in his first international Test appearance.
The Pakistan captain said the team’s opening batters provided a solid foundation despite challenging conditions. However, he acknowledged that Sri Lankan batters Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva built a strong partnership that put Pakistan under pressure. On the fifth and final day, Sri Lanka claimed five Pakistani wickets, but the lower-middle order helped the hosts recover from a difficult position.
Four wickets fell during the first session, with Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha among the early dismissals. Babar, despite receiving a reprieve, could not convert his start into a big innings and scored 42 runs, extending his wait for a Test century. Salman Ali Agha also struggled with the bat, scoring 16 runs in the first innings and 13 in the second.
Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel and Ghazi Ghouri built an important partnership to stabilise Pakistan’s innings. However, Saud’s dismissal for 97 once again denied him a century.
The match eventually ended in a draw after poor light interrupted play in Rawalpindi. Debutant Saqib Khan was named Player of the Match after claiming seven wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings. The second and final Test of the series is also scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi.
