Mohammad Taha made a composed start to Test cricket with 51 from 105 deliveries as Pakistan reached 281/5 at stumps on the opening day of the first ICC World Test Championship contest against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. It was a debut innings that gave Pakistan control, even if there is still work to do before they can fully convert that position into a commanding first-innings total.
The opening day of the First Test, scheduled for 9-13 November in Rawalpindi, belonged to Pakistan for long periods. Taha’s fifty provided the clearest sign that the hosts have depth in this series, while the context now points to a strong push beyond 400 if they can build properly on Monday’s platform.
Taha settles Pakistan after early nerves
Taha was honest afterwards about the pressure of making a first Test appearance, saying there were naturally early nerves on debut. But once he found his rhythm, he felt reassured by batting alongside Babar Azam, whose presence at the crease helped him settle.
He also said Babar and head coach Mike Hesson encouraged him to trust the same game plan and processes that had brought him success in the domestic season. That is often the difference at this level: not the quality of the player, but whether he can carry familiar habits into a higher-pressure environment.
For Pakistan, Taha’s innings mattered because it was not just about survival. It came in a 69-run stand and helped steady the innings at a point when the debutant could easily have been overawed. Instead, he looked calm enough to play the situation, which is exactly what selectors want to see from a young batter in home conditions.
Why 400 remains the target
Taha was clear that Pakistan are taking things step by step, but he also made the target plain: a first-innings total in excess of 400 would set a competitive benchmark. He also pointed to the fact that Saud Shakeel and Arafat Minhas are still to come, which means the hosts still have batting to add to the scoreboard.
That is the important next phase of this Test. At 281/5, Pakistan are well placed, but not yet in the sort of position where the pressure is fully on Sri Lanka. If the lower order can add meaningful runs, then the opening day will look even more valuable in the context of the series and the wider ICC World Test Championship picture.
The surface is not straightforward, as Taha noted, but it does become more manageable once a batter is established. That is why the final session on the first day mattered so much, and why Pakistan will feel they can still move the game well beyond parity if they bat smartly on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka pleased to recover late
From Sri Lanka’s point of view, bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk admitted they were probably not satisfied with bowling first and felt the seamers should have taken a couple more wickets. That is a fair reflection of a day where Pakistan held the upper hand for much of the contest.
Still, he did point to some recovery in the final session, saying the bowlers pulling things back late was a positive. That gives Sri Lanka at least a small foothold after a loose start, and they will hope the second day brings more control in Rawalpindi.
As the First Test moves on, the shape of the match is already clear: Pakistan have the platform, Sri Lanka need wickets, and Taha’s debut has given the hosts a useful foundation. With the Second Test due to be played in Lahore from 17-21 November, the opening game now has the feel of a contest Pakistan can make their own if they turn 281/5 into something substantially bigger.
