Mohammad Tayyab Arif fifty for Pakistan - (Source: X)
On Monday, November 9, Pakistan and Sri Lanka locked horns for the 1st of two-match Test series. The visitors won the toss and opted to field first. Meanwhile, Pakistan experimented with their opening order and handed a debut to Mohammad Tayyab Arif.
The 20-year-old opened the innings alongside Azan Awais and the duo stitched an 86-run opening stand. Tayyab Arif hogged the internet because he scored a fifty on his debut and rewrote history books.
Fastest 50s for Pakistan in Debut Test
Tayyab brought up his fifty in just 46 deliveries as his knock featured nine fours and a solitary six. With that, he slammed the 2nd fastest fifty for Pakistan in a debut Test. Tayyab Arif is just behind Razaullah, who recently slammed a 43-ball fifty against England in Birmingham.
Fastest 50s for Pakistan in Debut Test
- 43 - Razaullah vs England, Birmingham, 2026
- 46 - Mohammad Tayyab Arif vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi, 2026, This Innings*
- 52 - Faheem Ashraf vs Ireland, Dublin (Malahide), 2018
Eventually, Tayyab Arif returned to the pavilion after scoring 57 (51).
Meet Mohammad Tayyab Arif: Pakistan’s 20-year-old wonderkid
It is worth noting that Mohammad Tayyab Arif was initially not part of Pakistan’s Test squad for Sri Lanka, but was added to the team just hours before the 1st Test. On November 7, the PCB revised their squad and included 4 new players in the squad.
The selection comes after some impressive performances in Pakistan’s domestic circuit. Muhammad Tayyab Arif has earned his place after an impressive first-class campaign. Leading Kingsmen Academy in the Departmental first-class tournament, the batter accumulated 727 runs in seven matches at an average of 66.09.
Pakistan Name 4 Debutants For 1st Test vs Sri Lanka
Notably, for the ongoing Test, Pakistan have named 4 debutants - Tayyab Arif, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Taha, and Saqib Khan. So far, the Babar Azam-led side have given Test caps to 12 players in 2026, the highest since 1952.
It also tells of the ailing state of Pakistan’s Test cricket as they sit last on the WTC standings, with no hopes of qualifying for WTC final.
