Babar Azam struck a fluent unbeaten half-century as Pakistan closed a rain-shorted first day of the first Test against England on 139 for two at a gloomy and wet Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Babar (69 not out) showed all his skill and class to weather an early storm from the England bowlers, and wrestle away the initiative along with the more sedate opener Shan Masood (46 not out).
Earlier, Pakistan were 121-2, when the umpires ordered an early tea.
Together with left-handed opener Shan Masood (45 not out), he had put on an unbroken 78 for the third wicket before the weather intervened. Pakistan were 43-2 when Babar came in to bat after captain Azhar Ali, who had won the toss, fell lbw for a duck to Chris Woakes.
Azhar, asked on Tuesday if Babar could join Australia’s Steve Smith and India’s Virat Kohli in the top bracket of Test batsmen, said: “I think he is right up there already.
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