RAWALPINDI, 13 November 2026: Saud Shakeel fell agonisingly short of a century for the second time in the match as the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a draw at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Chasing survival on the final day, Pakistan finished their second innings on 284-8 in 84.5 overs, with a lead of 272 runs, as the match ended with Saud’s dismissal on the very last ball.
The left-hander, who had scored 93 in the first innings, once again looked set for three figures before he was bowled by Lahiru Kumara for 97 off 210 balls, including seven fours. His gritty knock ensured Pakistan escaped with a draw after conceding a slender 12-run first-innings lead.
Pakistan resumed the day at 57-1 but suffered early blows as overnight batters Azan Awais (22) and Mohammad Taha (24) departed without adding to their scores.
Captain Babar Azam played a brisk 34 off 48 balls before falling to Milan Rathnayaka, while Salman Agha managed just 13 as Pakistan slipped to 125-5 and Sri Lanka sensed a win.
It was then that Saud found an able partner in wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (35). The pair added a crucial 92 runs for the sixth wicket to steady the innings.
After Ghazi’s dismissal, Arafat Minhas chipped in with 16, but Saud held firm till the end, becoming the eighth batter to fall on the final delivery of the match.
Rathnayaka was Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler in the second innings with 3-47, while Asitha Fernando (2-35) and Kumara (2-65) took two wickets each.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had posted 446 in their first innings, thanks to a magnificent 167 from Dhananjaya de Silva and 119 from Kusal Mendis. Kamindu Mendis contributed 58.
The star of the match, however, was Pakistan debutant Saqib Khan, who was named Player of the Match for his outstanding figures of 7-130 in Sri Lanka’s first innings. Mohammad Abbas took 2-68.
Pakistan had earlier declared their first innings at 434-9, with Saud (93), Tayyab Arif (57), Arafat Minhas (52), Mohammad Taha (51) and Babar Azam (50) all scoring half-centuries.
The second Test of the two-match series will be played at the same venue from 17 November.
Scores in brief:
Match drawn
Pakistan 434-9 dec (Saud Shakeel 93, Tayyab Arif 57, Arafat Minhas 52, Mohammad Taha 51, Babar Azam 50; Asitha Fernando 3-107, Dilshan Madushanka 3-108) and 284-8 (Saud Shakeel 97, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 35, Babar Azam 34; Milan Rathnayaka 3-47, Asitha Fernando 2-35, Lahiru Kumara 2-65)
Sri Lanka 446 all out (Dhananjaya de Silva 167, Kusal Mendis 119, Kamindu Mendis 58; Saqib Khan 7-130, Mohammad Abbas 2-68)
Player of the Match: Saqib Khan (Pakistan)
