Rawalpindi: Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Saturday joined his teammates Abdullah Shafiq and Imam-ul-Haq in scoring a century – his seventh of the match after England’s first four – as the first Test in Rawalpindi headed for a draw.
Azam hit a boundary off opposing captain Ben Stokes to reach his eighth century off 126 balls, which included 13 fours.
Pakistan, at 411-3, are in a strong position to reach 458 and avoid a follow-on in reply to England’s 657 in their first innings.
A phenomenal innings by @babarazam258 👑
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 3, 2022
He brings up his 8️⃣th Test 💯 👏#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/kVCeWOmcVS
Shafiq, overnight 89, was three figures from the first with a sharp single on the route, while Haq — who opened the session on 90 — hit a boundary off the same bowler.
Both of them now have three Test centuries and back-to-back centuries at the venue, having also reached three against Australia in March this year.
Haq scored a century in both innings against Australia while Shafiq scored a century in the second innings.
Haq was eventually dismissed for 121 and Shafiq for 114.
Zach Crowley (122), Ben Duckett (107), Ollie Pope (108) and Harry Brooke (153) scored centuries in England’s first innings.
The Rawalpindi pitch has come under heavy criticism, with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja describing it as a symbol of the “dark ages”.
