A truly bizarre scene unfolded at Gaddafi Stadium on day one of the first Test match between Pakistan and South Africa. In an unusual display, Pakistani cricket fans were heard cheering loudly for the dismissal of their own captain, Shan Masood. The reason? They were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their beloved superstar, Babar Azam, at the crease.
Masood had contributed a solid 76 runs, building a significant 161-run partnership for the second wicket with Imam ul Haq, who scored 93. However, his innings came to an end in the second session when he was given out leg before wicket (LBW) to Prenelan Subrayan. What truly stunned observers was the crowd’s reaction when Masood opted for a Decision Review System (DRS) challenge. As the big screen confirmed the umpire’s original decision, signaling his departure, the stadium erupted in cheers – not of disappointment, but anticipation.
A thunderous round of applause greeted former captain Babar Azam as he made his way to the pitch, fulfilling the fans’ wish. However, the excitement was short-lived, as Azam could only manage 23 runs before being dismissed shortly after the tea break.
South African commentator Shaun Pollock openly voiced his astonishment at the crowd’s behavior, stating, “Someone needs to remind the crowd you don’t do this with your captain.” His comment highlighted the unusual nature of the spectacle.
Interestingly, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had offered free entry to various seating areas to encourage higher attendance. Despite this initiative, many enclosures remained noticeably empty, though a considerable crowd was still present in other parts of the stadium.
By the close of play on day one of the first Test in Lahore, Pakistan had reached 313 for 5, largely thanks to Imam-ul-Haq’s impressive 93 and Shan Masood’s 76 runs.
Following their strong 161-run opening partnership, Pakistan experienced a middle-order collapse, falling from 163 for 1 to 199 for 5. Spinners Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer were instrumental in triggering this decline. However, Mohammad Rizwan (62 not out) and Salman Agha (52 not out) then forged a resilient, unbroken 114-run partnership, stabilizing the innings on a pitch that favored spin.
Imam-ul-Haq, making his return to Test cricket after 2023, expressed the team’s ambition to score over 400 runs. While South Africa’s bowlers managed to fight back, they also squandered several crucial opportunities. Harmer, for his part, anticipated even more turn and assistance for spinners on the second day of this World Test Championship match.