Pakistan’s opening campaign fixture in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 ended in a gripping, nerve-jangling draw against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, November 13, 2026. At the heart of the hosts’ stubborn survival was middle-order mainstay Saud Shakeel, who batted for over five hours on the final day before being bowled on 97 on the very last delivery of the match. Having already been dismissed for 93 in the first innings, the 31-year-old left-hander suffered the rare heartbreak of missing out on a three-figure landmark in both innings of the same Test. Nevertheless, his marathon vigil across 210 balls steered Pakistan to 284 for 8 in their second innings—an overall lead of 272 runs—successfully blunting a spirited Sri Lankan pace attack and ensuring the two-match series remains level heading into the second Test.

How Did Saud Shakeel Save Pakistan on Day 5 in Rawalpindi?

Resuming the fifth morning at 57 for 1—still leading by just 45 runs after conceding a slender 12-run first-innings deficit—Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble early under overcast Rawalpindi skies. Sri Lankan seamers struck twice in quick succession to remove overnight batters Azan Awais (22) and Mohammad Taha (24) without a single run added to their scores. Skipper Babar Azam counter-attacked briefly with a fluent 34 off 48 deliveries before falling to Milan Rathnayake, and when Salman Ali Agha departed for 13, the hosts had slumped to 125 for 5, staring down the barrel of a defeat in their WTC cycle opener. Walking into a high-pressure crisis, Saud Shakeel demonstrated remarkable temperament, absorbing dot balls, leaving deliveries outside off stump, and anchoring a vital 92-run sixth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (35 off 69 balls). Even after Sri Lanka broke through to reduce Pakistan to 261 for 7 after tea, Shakeel marshaled the lower order alongside Arafat Minhas (16) and Razaullah (6 not out) until Lahiru Kumara finally breached his defenses with a fuller delivery on the final ball of the 85th over, bringing an immediate handshake from both captains.

First Innings Highlights: Debutant Saqib Khan Shines Amid Twin Sri Lankan Centuries

Earlier in the five-day contest, which began on November 9, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first on a surface offering early moisture. The home side posted a competitive 434 for 9 declared, built around Saud Shakeel’s composed 93 off 199 balls and half-centuries from debutants and young batters Tayyab Arif (57), Arafat Minhas (52), Mohammad Taha (51), and captain Babar Azam (50). Sri Lanka replied strongly with 446 all out across 117.2 overs, riding on a monumental 249-run partnership between Dhananjaya de Silva, who hammered 167 off 246 deliveries, and newly appointed Test captain Kusal Mendis, who struck 119 off 202 balls on his leadership debut. Despite the visitors’ batting dominance, Pakistan debutant fast bowler Saqib Khan stole the spotlight with a sensational spell of 7 for 130 in 34 overs—the standout bowling performance of the match that earned him the Player of the Match award and prevented Sri Lanka from running away with a decisive first-innings lead.

What Does the Draw Mean for the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 Standings?

Because this fixture marked Pakistan’s very first assignment in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle, the stalemate yields four WTC points each for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, translating to a 33.33 percentage of points (PCT) from the opening match. For a Pakistani side fielding several fresh faces—including Azan Awais, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Ghazi Ghori, Arafat Minhas, Razaullah, and Saqib Khan—holding off a seasoned Sri Lankan lineup featuring Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kusal Mendis represents a valuable confidence boost. On the other side, Sri Lanka’s pace trio of Milan Rathnayake (3 for 47), Asitha Fernando (2 for 35), and Lahiru Kumara (2 for 65) showcased impressive discipline in the fourth innings, coming within two wickets of an away victory.

When and Where Will the Second Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test Be Played?

With the two-match series locked at 0–0, both teams will remain in Rawalpindi for the decisive second and final Test, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Originally slated to be hosted in Lahore, the second Test was relocated to Rawalpindi by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) due to deteriorating air quality and rising smog levels in Punjab’s provincial capital. Having already tested the Rawalpindi surface over five grueling days, Pakistan will hope Saud Shakeel can convert his twin nineties into a maiden series century when play resumes on Tuesday, while Sri Lanka will look to capitalize on their second-innings bowling momentum to push for an outright series triumph.