Pakistan shatter 34-year-old Test record with West Indies thrashing

The match concludes in less than three days

By Web Desk
January 19, 2025
Pakistan players walk back to pavilion after winning the first Test against West Indies in Multan on January 19, 2025. — AFP

MULTAN: Pakistan men’s cricket team on Sunday, broke a long-standing Test record with their 127-run victory over West Indies in the opening fixture of the two-match series here at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The first Test, which unfolded in less than three days despite a weather-hit opening day, is now the shortest international red-ball fixture in Pakistan to have a result in terms of balls bowled.

Only 1064 deliveries were bowled across four innings of the aforementioned fixture, 16 fewer than the previous shortest match, which was also played between Pakistan and West Indies in late 1990.

Furthermore, West Indies also faced the fewest number of balls in a Test (371), far less than their previous lowest of 450 balls against England in Leeds in 2000.

The fixture also Pakistan’s star with the ball, Sajid Khan, amassing a significant milestone.

The right-arm spinner claimed his 50th Test wicket in the match, etching his name in the record books. He reached this landmark after dismissing West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite.

His 50th wicket places him among the fastest bowlers from Pakistan to achieve the milestone, doing so in just his 11th Test match.

The 31-year-old's feat earned him the distinction of being the third-fastest Pakistani bowler to take 50 Test wickets.

The record for the fastest to reach the mark belongs to leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who achieved it in only nine matches.

Other notable bowlers on the list include Waqar Younis, Shabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Abbas, who are tied for second place.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan completed 100 dismissals in the longest format.

Rizwan now boasts 107 dismissals in just 64 innings, placing him among Pakistan's top wicketkeeping greats.

The record for the most dismissals by a Pakistani wicketkeeper in Test cricket is held by Wasim Bari, with 228 dismissals in 146 innings.

Kamran Akmal follows closely with 206 dismissals in 99 innings, while Sarfaraz Ahmed has 182 dismissals in 104 innings.

Moin Khan and Rashid Latif round out the top performers with 147 dismissals in 118 innings and 130 dismissals in 69 innings, respectively.

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