Debutant fast bowler Saqib Khan took seven wickets for 130 runs on day four of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Thursday, bowling the visitors out for 446 after they had resumed on 404 for 4. Sri Lanka’s first-innings lead was cut to just 12 runs, and Pakistan reached 57 for 1 in their second innings before bad light and then rain ended the day early.

Saqib struck in the first over of the morning, removing overnight centurion Dhananjaya de Silva for 167 without adding to his score, and then dismissed Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis for 119 in the fifth over, breaking a 249-run fifth-wicket partnership. He went on to remove Sonal Dinusha for 20, Lahiru Kumara for nought and Asitha Fernando for four, as Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 42 runs. His figures of 7 for 130 from 34 overs make him only the fourth Pakistani bowler to take seven wickets in an innings on Test debut, after Mohammad Nazir, Mohammad Zahid and Abrar Ahmed.

Pakistan, who had declared their first innings on 434 for 9, were 45 runs ahead at stumps with nine second-innings wickets in hand. Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha were the unbeaten batters. With more rain forecast for the final day on Friday, the match looks headed for a draw, which would leave the two-match series to be decided by the second Test, also in Rawalpindi, starting on 17 November.

Sources: Cricbuzz, ‘Saqib picks seven as Pakistan chip at Sri Lanka’s grip’, 12 November 2026 — https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/140882/saqib-picks-seven-as-pakistan-chip-at-sri-lankas-grip-cricbuzzcom ; The Nation, ‘Saqib’s dream debut, rain dominate fourth day of Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test’, 13 November 2026 — https://www.nation.com.pk/13-Nov-2026/saqib-s-dream-debut-rain-dominate-fourth-day-pakistan-sri-lanka-test ; Gulf Times (AFP), ‘Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test hit by bad weather after Saqib’s heroics’, 12 November 2026 — https://www.gulf-times.com/article/738053/sport/cricket/pakistan-sri-lanka-test-hit-by-bad-weather-after-saqibs-heroics

Photo: DeloarAkram, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons