Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said on Wednesday (July 20) that he hopes Abdullah Shafique becomes one of the world's best openers in the longest format. This proclamation by the captain came after the right-hander put on a show with the bat to help his team seal a win in the opening Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.
The hosts had set a target of 342 runs in the fourth innings. The tourists found themselves in a spot of bother after Babar (55 off 104 balls) was dismissed and they still needed more than 100 runs, with Lankan spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Dhananjay de Silva making life difficult at the crease.
Shafique though fared well against the spinners and eventually got his team over the line. He remained unbeaten on 160 and faced 408 balls.
"As a youngster, when you prove yourself and perform in tough conditions and difficult tracks, then it's good," Babar Azam told reporters.
"His confidence was high after performing against Australia so he was on a different level. And to perform against quality bowling, your confidence goes up higher."
In just his sixth match since making his debut last year, Shafique, who hit 136* against Australia in Rawalpindi in March, scored his second Test century.
"The way he plays, so clean and with his focus, he will get many, many more such knocks," Babar, who helped set up the chase with Shafique in a crucial third-wicket stand of 101 runs, remarked.
"I hope that he becomes one of the best openers in the world."
With a resolute 119 in the first innings and then a spirited 55 in the second dig, the 27-year-old Babar Azam continued his phenomenal form.
In comparison to the eight Test hundreds he had scored in 41 games, Babar deemed this one to be "special." The visitors were reeling at 85/7 in the first innings, but the captain took the responsibility and guided his team to 218.
"It was kind of special because the team needed it," he said.
"It was one of the best hundreds in Test matches (for me) because it was difficult. To play with tailenders you need double concentration to guide them and watch yourself as well. And I am happy that I did that."
The 27-year-old also lauded opposition spinner Jayasuriya for being their "main weapon" in just his second Test for Sri Lanka.
On Sunday (July 24), the second and final Test will start at the same venue.
(Geo Sports Inputs)
