Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Drawn in Rawalpindi: Saud Shakeel Out for 97, Saqib Khan Player of the Match

The two-match series is level at 0-0. The second Test starts on Tuesday 17 November, and it is now in Rawalpindi too, not Lahore.

Pakistan batted out the final day for a draw

Pakistan began day five on 57 for 1, only 45 runs ahead. Sri Lanka took four wickets before lunch and briefly gave themselves a chance. Saud Shakeel and wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori then added 92 for the sixth wicket, and the threat passed.

The ICC scorecard shows how the innings went:

Rain and bad light cost the match a large number of overs, mostly on day four. That made a result very hard for either side. Our day 4 report has how Sri Lanka's first innings ended.

Saud Shakeel fell for 97 with the last ball

Saud Shakeel made 97 from 210 balls, with seven fours. He was bowled by Lahiru Kumara in the 85th over, and the players walked off for the handshakes straight after. He had made 93 in the first innings, so he missed two Test hundreds in the same match by 10 runs in total.

Here is Pakistan's second innings in full:

Mohammad Abbas and Saqib Khan did not need to bat.

Pakistan's wickets fell in this order on the last day

The fall of wickets shows the danger came between 57 and 125. After that, the Shakeel and Ghori stand took the game away.

1. 15 for 1: Tayyab Arif, lbw to Asitha Fernando, on day four.
2. 57 for 2: Azan Awais, caught behind off Kumara.
3. 57 for 3: Mohammad Taha, caught behind off Fernando, five balls later.
4. 107 for 4: Babar Azam, caught off Milan Rathnayaka for 34.
5. 125 for 5: Salman Agha, caught off Rathnayaka for 13.
6. 217 for 6: Ghazi Ghori, caught behind off Rathnayaka, ending the 92 run stand.
7. 261 for 7: Arafat Minhas, caught off Dhananjaya de Silva.
8. 284 for 8: Saud Shakeel, bowled by Kumara for 97.

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis, who kept wicket, took three catches in this innings. He took five in Pakistan's first innings, so he finished with eight in the match, by our count of the scorecard.

Milan Rathnayaka took three wickets for Sri Lanka

Rathnayaka was the best of Sri Lanka's bowlers on the final day. He bowled 20 overs, 6 of them maidens, and took 3 for 47.

Saqib Khan was player of the match on debut

Saqib Khan took 7 for 130 in Sri Lanka's only innings, playing his first Test. Five of those wickets came on the fourth morning, when Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 42 runs. That swing stopped Sri Lanka from building a big lead.

At the presentation, Saqib said Test cricket asks a bowler for more overs and more consistency than first-class cricket. He also thanked Mohammad Abbas for his guidance. Babar Azam praised his openers for a solid start and singled out Saqib's confidence.

For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya de Silva made 167 and Kusal Mendis 119 in a stand of 249. Our page on Pakistan's Test squad changes explains how Saqib came into the side.

What the draw means for the World Test Championship

A draw is worth 4 points to each side under World Test Championship rules, against 12 for a win. Pakistan move to 9 points from 10 Tests, or 7.50 per cent, and stay ninth. Sri Lanka stay seventh on 33.33 per cent.

Our WTC points table after the Rawalpindi draw has the full table and what each result in the second Test would do.

The second Test moves to Rawalpindi from 17 November

The second Test was due at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The PCB moved it to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium because of heavy smog and poor air in Lahore. The dates are unchanged: 17 to 21 November, with play from 9:30 am PKT.

Tickets went on sale on 12 November at TCS Express Centres, with most enclosures at Rs 200 a day. Tapmad lists the match as a free stream. Our 2nd Test tickets and where to watch guide has every price.

Common questions

Who won the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?

Nobody. The Test in Rawalpindi ended in a draw on 13 November 2026, with Pakistan 284 for 8 in their second innings.

Who was player of the match?

Saqib Khan, who took 7 for 130 on his Test debut.

How many did Saud Shakeel score?

93 in the first innings and 97 in the second, 190 runs in the match. He was bowled by Lahiru Kumara with the final ball.

Where is the second Test?

At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, from 17 to 21 November. It was moved from Lahore because of smog.

What time does the second Test start?

Play starts at 9:30 am PKT each day.

How many WTC points did Pakistan get for the draw?

Four. Pakistan now have 9 points from 10 Tests, after 19 points were taken off earlier for slow over rates.

How we verified this

What we checked and where we read it.

Checked on 14 November 2026, about 3:30 am PKT. Scores, the batting card, bowling figures, fall of wickets, the player of the match award and the presentation remarks come from the ICC match centre and its live commentary, which also records the venue change. WTC points come from the ICC standings. The match start time comes from the Tapmad listing. Kusal Mendis's catch count is our own sum from the scorecard.