Pakistani Skipper Azhar Ali thanks Sri Lanka for coming home

Pakistani skipper Azhar Ali has praised and thanked Sri Lanka for their part in allowing Test cricket to return.

Azhar Ali while addressing in Karachi after the match he said we have to work hard more.

“There are some drawbacks to winning to which we have to overcome”

Pakistani Skipper said the team is trying to push its performance forward and grab more victories.

Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali thanked Sri Lanka for their part in allowing Test cricket to return.

“Special thanks to Sri Lanka from the bottom of our hearts,” said Azhar. “They have given us immense happiness by playing in Pakistan, it was pretty emotional.

“Naseem is a special talent and we can build on our bowling attack in the years to come.”

Read More: Naseem Shah becomes youngest pacer to take 5-wicket haul in Tests

Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne praised Pakistan.

“We dominated the first two days and then they batted very well and put pressure back on us and outplayed us. We couldn’t build pressure with the ball despite taking a lead of 80,” said Karunaratne.

However Pakistan fast-bowler Naseem Shah was on the verge of tears while remembering his mother after the second and final Test match against Sri Lanka in Karachi.

Pakistan Defeats Sri Lanka

Pakistan turned the match on its head with a huge second innings 555-3 declared on Sunday, with 174 from man-of-the match and man-of-the series Abid Ali, 135 from Shan Masood, 118 from Azhar and 100 not out from Babar Azam as the top four all reached three figures.

Abid had also scored hundred in the first Test.

The final day began in a dramatic manner when Naseem dismissed Lasit Embuldeniya off the first ball, catching his gloves on the way to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.

From the other end leg-spinner Yasir Shah had Oshada Fernando caught in the slip for his overnight score of 102 after a 180-ball knock that contained 13 boundaries.

Naseem wrapped up the match by trapping Vishwa Fernando with the fifth ball of the next over, triggering jubilation among the Pakistan players who were all playing in their first Test series at home.

Points Table

The win lifts Pakistan to third in the World Test Championship table with 80 points. Pakistan got 60 points from the win and 20 from the first Test draw.

India (360) and Australia (216) are currently first and second. Nine teams are competing in the Championship, with the top two contesting the final in June 2021.