DUBAI – Opener Mohammad Hafeez capped his return to Test cricket with a brilliant century as Pakistan reached 253-3 at the closing day of the opening day of the first match against Australia in Dubai on Sunday.
Hafeez, a late inclusion in the squad after a double hundred in a domestic match, smashed 126 while fellow opener Imam-ul-Haq 76 after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat on a flat Dubai Stadium pitch.
Hafeez, whose last of 50 Test appearances came in England two years ago, brought up his tenth Test century with two boundaries off Mitchell Starc before pushing spinner Jon Holland for two.
He was given a life on 74 when Mitchell Marsh could not hold on to a tough chance on the boundary off the bowling of Holland after covering some 20 yards in the outfield.
Imam compiled his second Test half-century with the aid of seven boundaries and two sixes as Australia’s pace-cum-spin attack toiled hard in two wicketless sessions.
Australia captain Tim Paine brought on off-spinner Nathan Lyon in the ninth over but none of the bowlers found any help from the pitch.
Australia handed Test caps to Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne while Pakistan included off-spinner Bilal Asif for his first Test at the age of 33.
The second Test starts in Abu Dhabi on October 16.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz
Australia: Tim Paine (captain), Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc
Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
TV umpire: Sundaram Ravi (IND)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
