Pakistan Debutants Etch History vs Bangladesh

Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal on debut [Source: AFP]

Pakistan debutants, Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal, were right in the thick of things in their first Test innings as they trailed Bangladesh’s 413 runs in Mirpur over the weekend.

While both are dedicated openers, Fazal had to bat number 3, and Awais got to open the innings with the senior pro Imam-ul-Haq. Incidentally, the pair also got to bat together and made sure they made a great first impression at the international stage, etching their names in the history books with a century and a fifty, respectively.

Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal achieve a unique feat on debut

Arriving at the international stage with great FC numbers, averaging close to 50, Azan Awais did not disappoint. Facing the first ball, he got off to a century stand for the first wicket with Imam-ul-Haq, who got out for 45.

Awais was joined by the 23-year-old Abdullah Fazal, and the duo stitched a 104-run stand for the second wicket. In the process, Awais became only the 14th Pakistan debutant to score a century, and his efforts were complemented by Fazal’s 60 off 120.

With this hundred and fifty, respectively, they became the first pair of top-order batters in 23 years to reach the respective milestones on debut. This is the 17th time that two debutants have scored a ton and fifty, but only the fourth time that these runs have come from the pair batting in the top order.

Previously, two other Pakistani pairs have achieved this back in 1964/65 and 2003.

Also Read: Azan Awais Enters Elite List: Pakistan Players Who Have Scored A Hundred On Test Debut

Century and a fifty for debutants batting in the top-order

(All these scores have come in the same innings of the respective matches)

Bangladesh fight back vs Pakistan

Following the consecutive hundred partnerships for the first two wickets, Pakistan were 210/2 and in a strong position to take a potential first innings lead on Day 3. However, courtesy of a five-wicket haul for Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the visitors were bundled for 386 runs, i.e., 27 short of Bangladesh’s score.

Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan also scored fifties, but Miraz’s 5/102 alongside 2/46 for Taijul Islam and 2/70 for Taskin Ahmed got Bangladesh the lead. At the Stumps Day 3, the hosts are 7/0 with a lead of 34 runs.

Pakistan aims for revenge against Bangladesh

Pakistan is set to play two Test matches in this ongoing tour of Bangladesh, where they are scheduled to play in Mirpur and Sylhet.

This is the first time that these two teams have met in Tests after the historic 2024 series in Pakistan. Visiting Bangladesh had gotten the better of Pakistan for the first time in a Test series, and to top it off, they won the 2024 series with a clean sweep of 2-0.

Pakistan have started this series with an interesting team selection, picking four top-order batters, including captain Shan Masood, while leaving out the former captain Babar Azam despite his blistering PSL form.

There are contrasting reports over Babar’s fitness, but the batter was also not at his best in Tests, having last scored a century back in December 2022.

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