Babar Azam Falls for 34 as Pakistan Struggle at 151-5 Against Sri Lanka

Babar Azam – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Babar Azam’s wait for a Test century went on as Sri Lanka pushed hard for victory in the rain-hit first Test in Rawalpindi on Friday.

The visitors took four wickets in the morning session. Pakistan reached 151-5 at lunch on the fifth and final day. The hosts lead by 139 runs with five wickets in hand.

Saud Shakeel is not out on 23. Ghazi Ghori is with him on seven. Play stopped for 20 minutes because of bad light, which slowed Sri Lanka’s chase for a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Azam scored 34 before he fell into a leg-side trap. Fast bowler Milan Rathnayaka found the edge, and the short square-leg fielder took an easy catch. It was the 42nd Test innings for Azam without a hundred.

Bad light stops play in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan 111-4, extending lead to 99 runs against Sri Lanka on Day 5.

Saud Shakeel 10* and Salman Agha 2* remain at the crease.

#PAKvSL | #CricketKaGhar https://t.co/TqIK16T81N

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 13, 2026

Salman Agha went the same way for 13, also off Rathnayaka. Pakistan slipped to 125-5.

Sri Lanka began the day in style. Lahiru Kumara bowled Azan Awais for 22 with the first ball. Asitha Fernando then removed Mohammad Taha for 24, caught behind, and Pakistan were 57-3.

Azam had a lucky escape on 22. Kamindu Mendis dropped a simple chance off Fernando. The captain added 50 runs with Shakeel and hit six fours before he played a loose shot.

Fernando has figures of 2-20. Rathnayaka has 2-32.

On day four, bad light and rain ended play early with Pakistan on 57-1 after 21.2 overs. Tayyab Arif was out lbw for 11 early on.

Earlier, Pakistan scored 434-9 in the first innings. Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis hit centuries in a huge 249-run stand. Sri Lanka finished on 446 after losing six wickets for 42 runs on the fourth morning.