Pakistan Gains Early Advantage on Day 1 Against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi Test
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl, but Pakistan's batters made steady progress, setting the stage for an intriguing second day.
The story
The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka commenced today at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis winning the toss and opting to bowl first on a pitch anticipated to assist fast bowlers. Despite the early conditions, Pakistan's batting lineup showed resilience, reaching 152 for the loss of two wickets by stumps on Day 1.
Babar Azam was a key contributor, scoring 45 runs from 46 balls, while Mohammad Taha remained at the crease with 16 runs. The hosts took the opening session, making good progress with the bat despite losing a couple of wickets. Meanwhile, the second Test between Bangladesh and West Indies in Sylhet, and the first Test between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in Sharjah, both reached their fifth and final day, with results not yet available.
Latest results
| Match | Format | Result | Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Test | Pakistan 152/2 (31.2 ov) at stumps Day 1 | Babar Azam 45 (46) |
| Bangladesh vs West Indies | Test | Result not yet available (Day 5) | Not available |
| Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe | Test | Result not yet available (Day 5) | Not available |
Series in play
Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan 2026. 1st Test, Day 1, Pakistan 152/2
West Indies tour of Bangladesh 2026. 2nd Test, Day 5, result pending
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe in UAE 2026. 1st Test, Day 5, result pending
India tour of New Zealand 2026. India leads 2-0 in five-match ODI series
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ICC World Test Championship (2025-27) | 1. Australia (81.82 PCT), 2. New Zealand (72.22 PCT), 3. South Africa (60.00 PCT) | Top two teams progress to the final in 2027. |
| ICC Men's Test Team Rankings | 1. South Africa, 2. Australia, 3. New Zealand | Current standings as of late 2025. |
| ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings | 1. India, 2. New Zealand, 3. South Africa | Current standings as of late 2025. |
What we'll be watching
- India vs New Zealand: 3rd ODI on November 10, 2026, at Seddon Park, Hamilton (02:00Z).
- Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: 1st Test, Day 2 on November 10, 2026, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (04:30Z).
- Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: 1st Test, Day 3 on November 11, 2026, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (04:30Z).
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