Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 4 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja lauded his side for the Test match win against Sri Lanka in Galle. He said that this was probably one of the best wins for the side and correlated the victory to the famous win against India in Bangalore in 1987.
Pakistan displayed a sensational all-round performance in the first Test against Sri Lanka to take a 1-0 lead in the series. After being asked to bowl first, the visitors bundled out the opposition for just 244 runs on the back of Shaheen Afridi’s four-wicket haul.
Pakistan had a poor outing with the bat in the first innings as they lost wickets in clusters but thanks to skipper Babar Azam, who scored a sensational 119 runs, they posted a first innings total of 218 runs.
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In the second essay, Sri Lanka posted a total of 337 runs, setting tourists the target of 341 runs. With the spin on offer along with the fourth innings pitch, not many gave Pakistan a chance to win. But it was a monstrous effort from them as they rode on Abdhulla Shafique’s unbeaten 160 runs to complete a comfortable 4-wicket win.
Speaking to a Pakistani news channel, Ramiz Raja said that win against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle was one of the best for the side. He highlighted how despite tough conditions they pulled off an incredible chase and compared this victory to a famous win against India in Bangalore.
Notably, Raja was part of the team led by Imran Khan that beat India in a low-scoring Test in Bangalore in 1987. They had defeated the hosts by 16 runs to clinch the five-match series by the margin of 1-0.
"From a difficulty point of view I would say this is one of Pakistan's best Test wins in a run-chase probably the best. In terms of difficult conditions I would say the Galle win is at par with the victory we achieved in Bangalore against India on a turning pitch," Ramiz Raja said.
Ramiz further said they have given free hand to skipper Babar and along with him, others are also taking full ownership of the team.
“The team is his property and I am happy to say that not only he as captain but other players also took full ownership of the team and performances. I have never tried to interfere in team matters although as chairman I can and we have given Babar a free hand and he has made a good team. We should internally also give respect to this team they don't get the same respect internally that they get internationally,” he said.
The second Test between the two teams is due to be played at the same venue from Sunday (24th July).
(PTI inputs)