Imam-ul-Haq crafted his maiden Test hundred and forged two century-plus partnerships to propel Pakistan to 245 for one on Day I of the opening Test against Australia in Rawalpindi on Friday.
The bespectacled 26-year-old, who was not out on 132 at the close, added 105 runs with fellow-opener Abdullah Shafique to give Pakistan a strong start after captain Babar Azam’s decision to bat.
His 140-run stand for the unbroken second wicket with Azhar Ali, who was 64 not out, further consolidated Pakistan’s position on a flat pitch where Australia rued not playing a second spinner.
Imam’s 271-ball knock included 15 boundaries and two sixes. “I cannot express in words my feelings,” Imam told reporters.
“I kept trust in my process and coming back to the Test side, I wanted to make the opportunity count.” Australia are in Pakistan for the first time in 24 years for a full tour, which could potentially lead to regular visits by top teams who have largely stayed away since a 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore.
However, at least 30 people were killed on Friday in a suicide bombing at a Shi’ite mosque in Peshawar, some 140 kilometres (87 miles) away from Islamabad where the Australian team are staying.
Australia players wore black armbands in memory of former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh who died aged 74 early on Friday. Earlier, Josh Hazlewood returned from a side injury to replace Scott Boland in Australia’s three-pronged pace attack but an early breakthrough eluded the tourists.
Australia captain Pat Cummins used up a review trying to get Imam lbw by Mitchell Starc, then introduced spin in the eighth over. Abdullah stepped out to hit Lyon over the long-on rope for a six and Imam would later give Australia’s frontline spinner the same treatment.
Lyon finally broke the stand when Abdullah stepped out only to sky the ball high in the air, allowing Cummins to run from mid-off to take a tumbling catch. All-rounder Cameron Green, who was not even born when Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998, was pressed into attack after lunch but Imam and Azhar ended up batting through the last two sessions to frustrate Australia.
Imam threaded a Starc delivery through the off-side for a four to bring up his hundred after tea. Cummins used eight bowlers, including part-time spinners Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, but it was a day of toil with little success for the tourists.
Security net
The Australians will be guided by security experts, coach Andrew McDonald said on Friday, referring to the suicide bombing. “Our thoughts are obviously with the people in Peshawar,” McDonald said after the opening day’s play in Rawalpindi. “For us we’d be guided by our security team.
“We’re in really really good hands. So we’ll be guided by those people, the experts in the field...
“If anything were to change, clearly they will be able to be talking about (that),” the coach added. The Pakistan Cricket Board has arranged presidential-style security for the entire tour.
