Pakistan’s men’s cricket team etched its name in the record books with a commanding 127-run win over the West Indies in the opening Test of the two-match series at Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Despite rain delays on the first day, the match concluded in under three days, setting a new record as the shortest Test in Pakistan’s history to yield a result based on balls bowled. A total of just 1,064 deliveries were bowled across all four innings, breaking the previous record of 1,080 balls set during a Pakistan-West Indies Test in 1990. Additionally, the West Indies faced only 371 deliveries in the entire match, marking their lowest-ever balls faced in a Test—far below their previous low of 450 against England in Leeds in 2000.
Pakistan’s players delivered standout individual performances throughout the game. Spinner Sajid Khan celebrated a career milestone by claiming his 50th Test wicket, dismissing West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite to achieve the feat. He accomplished this in just his 11th Test, becoming the third-fastest Pakistani bowler to reach the mark. Yasir Shah holds the record for the fastest Pakistani to 50 Test wickets (achieved in nine matches), while Waqar Younis, Shabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Abbas jointly hold second place.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan also reached a significant milestone, recording his 100th dismissal in Test cricket. With 107 dismissals in only 64 innings, Rizwan now ranks among Pakistan’s top wicketkeepers. The all-time leader is Wasim Bari with 228 dismissals in 146 innings, followed by Kamran Akmal (206 in 99 innings), Sarfaraz Ahmed (182 in 104 innings), Moin Khan (147 in 118 innings), and Rashid Latif (130 in 69 innings).
Sajid Khan was named Player of the Match for his exceptional performance. Reflecting on the game, Sajid expressed his gratitude to his teammates and coaches. “The pitch played well, and the team’s collective effort made this win possible. Special credit goes to Rizwan, Shakeel, and Shan for their key contributions, especially Shan’s effort in the second innings,” he said. Sajid also highlighted the valuable guidance of the team’s spin bowling coach, which helped him adjust his bowling in the second innings by slowing down and focusing on control.
He further acknowledged the mentorship of fellow spinner Noman Ali. “Noman’s experience is a huge asset. We strategize together, and our goal in the second innings was to restrict the opposition’s scoring, which worked perfectly,” Sajid added.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite admitted his team’s shortcomings with the bat but noted positives such as Jomel Warrican’s effective spin bowling and Alick Athanaze’s impressive batting, particularly his sweeping technique. He urged his players to approach the final Test with confidence and determination, emphasizing the importance of trusting their defense and playing with intent on challenging pitches.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood lauded the efforts of spinners Abrar Ahmed, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan for their clinical performances. He also praised Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan’s crucial partnership, while acknowledging the challenges faced by the lower-order batsmen. Shan emphasized the need for continuous improvement and called for better contributions from all areas, despite the team’s strong victory.
