Pakistan set a unique world record during the ongoing first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as they posted a strong total of 434 in the first innings before skipper Babar Azam decided to declare the innings. The hosts had named four debutants in their playing XI as the wholesale changes in their Test team continue after the disastrous tour of England, where they handed three debut caps in the third Test.

There were five half-centuries in the innings, with three of them coming from debutants, with opening Tayyab Arif making 57 runs off 51 balls while Mohammed Taha made 51 runs too. Later, Arafat Minhas continued his fine form from white-ball cricket with 52 runs off 72 balls. Meanwhile, skipper Babar also made 50 runs off 93 balls, while vice-captain Saud Shakeel was the highest run-getter with a knock of 93.

Pakistan Set Unique World Record

Pakistan's first innings in the ongoing Test is only the second instance in Test cricket history of three players or more making a half-century in the same innings. The only instance came with Zimbabwe in 1992 against India at the Harare Sports Club as they posted 456 on the board with Grand Flower (82), Dave Houghton (121), and Andy Flower (59) reaching the milestone.

However, it is worth noting that that was Zimbabwe's first-ever Test match in history, which meant all their players were on Test debut by design. This makes Pakistan the first team in 149 years of Test cricket being played the first-ever team with three debutants scoring half-centuries in the same innings while not playing their debut test.

Meanwhile, there have been 34 instances in Test cricket history where two debutants have scored a half-century in the same innings.

If two of Pakistan's four debutants manage to score half-centuries in the second innings, it will set a world record for the most half-centuries by debutants in a match. So far, there have been six instances of four debutants (from either team) scoring a fity in the same innings in a match.