Three Pakistan debutants scored half-centuries in the same Test innings against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, only the second time the feat has happened in the 149-year history of Test cricket. Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha and Arafat Minhas all reached fifty in Pakistan's first innings of the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, as the hosts declared on 434 for 9.

The only previous instance came in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test against India in Harare in 1992, when Dave Houghton, Grant Flower and Andy Flower all passed fifty on debut. Pakistan's trio matched that achievement 34 years later.

Tayyab sets the tone on day one

Tayyab, opening the batting alongside Azan Awais, was the first of the three to reach his half-century. The 20-year-old scored 57 off 51 balls, hitting nine fours and a six, during an 86-run opening stand with Awais, who made 30.

His fifty came off 46 balls, making it the second-fastest half-century by a Pakistan batter on Test debut. It was an immediate statement from a player who was one of four cricketers added to Pakistan's squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka.

Taha and Minhas complete the trio

Mohammad Taha, the 26-year-old all-rounder, followed with an anchoring half-century of 51 off 105 balls, including five boundaries. He added 69 runs for the third wicket with captain Babar Azam, who made 50.

Arafat Minhas completed the historic trio on day two. Coming in at number eight, he scored 52 off 72 balls, with nine fours and a six, and helped take Pakistan past the 400-run mark before he was dismissed.

Vice-captain Saud Shakeel top-scored for Pakistan with 93, falling seven runs short of a century, as five batters in all reached fifty in the innings. Babar declared during the second session on day two at 434 for 9 in 106.3 overs.

A record that stood since 1992

Before Rawalpindi, the only recorded instance of three Test debutants scoring half-centuries in the same innings had come in Zimbabwe's first-ever Test, against India in October 1992. Houghton led the way with 121, Grant Flower made 82 and Andy Flower scored 59.

Pakistan are the first side other than a team playing its inaugural Test to achieve the feat, and the first to do it in 34 years. The performance also underlined the scale of Pakistan's selection overhaul for this series, with four debutants in the side: Tayyab, Taha, Minhas and seamer Saqib Khan, who made an instant impact with the ball by taking two wickets as Sri Lanka reached 114 for 3 at stumps on day two, trailing by 320 runs after play ended early for bad light.

Pakistan in control at Rawalpindi

The debutants' contribution gave Pakistan a commanding position in the series opener, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Sri Lanka had won the toss and chosen to field, but the decision backfired as Pakistan's new-look batting line-up piled up the runs over the first two days.

For the three debutants, the record will stand as a landmark in their first Test appearances, whatever the rest of the match brings. For Pakistan, it is early evidence that the bold squad changes for this home series can deliver.

Read the full reports from A-Sports and Geo Super: A-Sports report and Geo Super report.