Pakistan opener Azhar Ali creates a record to become day-night Test cricket's first centurion vs West Indies albeit no crowd support on Day One of Asian nation's 400th Test in Dubai
Azhar Ali plays a shot during his historic knock on the opening day of the first day-night Test against West Indies in Dubai yesterday. Pic/AFP
Azhar Ali plays a shot during his historic knock on the opening day of the first day-night Test against West Indies in Dubai yesterday. Pic/AFP
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Dubai: Pakistan vice-captain Azhar Ali created history by becoming the first man to hit a hundred in day-night Tests.
Ali, opening for only the sixth time in his career, played a chanceless innings against West Indies in the opening match of the three-match series at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) yesterday.
The previous highest score in the only day-night Test played before this match was Australia wicket-keeper Peter Nevill's 66 in 2015 at the Adelaide Oval.
Ali reached his 11th Test hundred off 184 balls with a drive off Roston Chase on what was a very horrid Thursday for West Indies on the field. It was Pakistan's 400th Test match, as also Ali's 50th and it proved to be a moment to cherish.
Ali combined with newcomer Sami Aslam in a mammoth opening stand of 200 at the time of going to press. Throughout the day, the openers presented just a couple of opportunities to the West Indies.
The visitors' bowling attack hardly looked threatening as the two batsmen made merry. Ali was dropped by Leon Johnson when he was on 14.
Later, when Ali was on 38, he survived a review of a leg-before appeal off West Indies captain Jason Holder. His partner Aslam too survived a review when he was on 69.
Meanwhile, the historic Test got off to a tepid start except for a few celebrations organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to celebrate their 400th Test match.
Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis, legendary wicket-keeper Wasim Bari (current team manager), Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, West Indies' iconic former captain Sir Vivian Richards, Dubai Sports City (DSC) partner Abdul Rehman Falaknaz and one of Pakistan's most respected sports journalists Qamar Ahmed were the guests for the ceremony, where members of both the Pakistan and West Indies teams were presented with specially crafted commemorative coins.
But despite the historic nature of the occasion, there was hardly any enthusiasm around the match as the opening day was played in front of near empty stands.
It once again showed the absolute lack of interest in the longest version of the game and that too just a kilometre away from the headquarters of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
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