Pakistan reached 137 for two at lunch on the opening day of the Rawalpindi Test against Sri Lanka on November 9, 2026, as debutant opener Muhammad Tayyab Arif scored an impressive half-century.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first, with captain Kusal Mendis expecting the pitch to offer assistance to fast bowlers.
Tayyab Arif scored 57 runs before being caught behind off Asitha Fernando. Fellow opener Azan Awais was the first wicket to fall, departing for 30 after being caught by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis off Milan Rathnayake.
At the lunch interval, Pakistan captain Babar Azam was unbeaten on 31, while another debutant, Mohammad Taha, was batting on 15.
Four Pakistan Players Make Test Debuts
Pakistan handed Test debuts to four players for the match: opener Muhammad Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, all-rounder Arafat Minhas and fast bowler Saqib Khan.
Captain Babar Azam had earlier said the team would need to remain cautious during the opening session.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Azan Awais, Muhammad Tayyab Arif, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Taha, Salman Ali Agha, Ghazi Ghori, Rizwanullah, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Abbas and Saqib Khan.
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (captain), Lahiru Udara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.