Pakistan put in an outstanding performance during the final two days of the second Test in Karachi to earn a draw against Australia. Pakistan surrendered a 408-run lead after being reduced to 148 in the first innings in reply to Australia's 556/9d and was finally set a 506-run chase after the visitors declared their second innings at 97/2.
The hosts' fightback was led by Babar Azam (196), Abdullah Shafique (96), and Mohammad Rizwan (104*), as Pakistan finished at 443/7 before both teams shook hands and ended the match in a draw.
The team was praised for their outstanding comeback, and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja commended them on their outstanding performance. Ramiz called the side's batting performance "best-ever" in a match-saving cause in a video shared on Twitter by PCB.
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“Some matches test your character, your will. We saw today that Pakistan, for two days, fought and saved the Test. For Pakistan, this batting performance was probably the best-ever in a match-saving cause,” said Ramiz in the video on PCB Twitter.
“You need to change gears, you need to be defensive, there are opportunities where you can hit shots but you have to resist, you need to build partnerships with tailenders, but you cannot take your eye away for one second.”
Australia's pressure was maintained till the finish of the game, according to the PCB chairman, and Babar's innings were the "best of his life."
"Australia maintained the pressure till the end. We saw how strong they are mentally. The whole world was watching this game. Pakistan absorbed the pressure really well.
“I don't know what to say about Babar. He probably played the best innings of his life. When you know that you can't afford to make mistakes, pressure builds automatically. Additionally, the close-in fielders add to the pressure and you have to revisit the process. But it was a brilliant batting performance,” said Ramiz.