Multan, January 17, 2025 – Pakistan faced an early setback on the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies, losing four key wickets after winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Despite their decision to take to the crease, Pakistan’s top-order faltered, leaving the team struggling at 77/4 by the end of the first day’s play.
After winning the toss, Pakistan’s batting line-up appeared confident, but the West Indian bowlers quickly shattered their optimism. The top four batsmen were dismissed for just 46 runs, leaving the team in a precarious position. By the completion of 25 overs, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan were holding the fort, cautiously adding runs in an attempt to stabilize the innings and post a competitive total for Pakistan.
The West Indies’ bowlers, particularly Jayden Seals, delivered a superb performance with the ball. Seals claimed three crucial wickets, effectively derailing Pakistan’s top-order. Gudakesh Motie also contributed with one wicket, adding to Pakistan’s woes. The performance of Seals and Motie was instrumental in Pakistan’s collapse, which saw them lose their four top-order batsmen early in the innings.
Shan Masood, who has been a key figure for Pakistan in recent matches, was dismissed for just 11 runs, while Muhammad Hurraira managed a mere 6 runs. Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, was dismissed for a low score of 8, and Kamran Ghulam was sent back to the pavilion after contributing just 5 runs to the total. With the top-order crumbling, Pakistan’s hopes of a solid first innings were dashed early on.
At the close of play on the first day, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan remained at the crease, fighting to build a foundation for Pakistan’s recovery. The duo will need to play cautiously and assertively in the coming days to help Pakistan reach a respectable total. As the match progresses, Pakistan will be hoping for a resilient performance to regain control and challenge the West Indies on a pitch that is expected to offer more assistance to the bowlers.