Three Pakistan Debutants Match 34-Year-Old Test Record With Fifties Against Sri Lanka

Three Pakistan debutants wrote their names into the Test record books on the opening day of the first match against Sri Lanka, becoming only the second set of players to score half-centuries on debut in the same innings. The feat, achieved by Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and Arafat Minhas, matches a record that had stood untouched for 34 years.

Tayyab, one of four players added to Pakistan's initial 14-member squad on Saturday, opened the batting alongside Azan Awais. The right-hander made an immediate impression, striking 57 off just 51 deliveries with nine fours and a six. His aggressive start set the tone for a strong Pakistani batting display.

He was followed by 26-year-old all-rounder Mohammad Taha, who compiled a patient 51 off 105 balls, including five boundaries. Arafat Minhas then completed the historic achievement, coming in at number eight and scoring 52 off 72 deliveries with nine fours and a six, a knock that helped Pakistan push past the 400-run mark.

The only previous instance of three debutants scoring half-centuries in the same Test innings came in 1992, when Zimbabwe's Dave Houghton, Grant Flower and Andy Flower achieved the feat against India. Houghton, who captained Zimbabwe, top-scored with 121, while Grant Flower and Andy Flower made 82 and 59 respectively.

The performance underlines the depth emerging in Pakistan's red-ball setup, with three newcomers delivering under pressure in the same innings. The two-Test series against Sri Lanka continues, with the trio now part of a select group in the game's history.