RAWALPINDI: Veteran batsman Azhar Ali and opener Imam-ul-Haq scored big hundreds to help Pakistan dominate Australia Saturday on the second day of the opening Test in Rawalpindi.
Azhar knocked 185 and Haq a career-best 157 to guide Pakistan to 476-4 against a hapless Australian attack on a placid and unresponsive Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch.
Skipper Babar Azam declared the innings an hour before close in the hope of an early wicket, but Australia closed the day on five without loss after bad light ended play with 15 overs remaining.
Left-handed opener Usman Khawaja scored five, while David Warner was yet to get off the mark.
Australia will need another 272 runs to avoid the follow-on against Pakistan’s wily spinners who are used to the pitch conditions.
The day began on a somber note as players paid tribute to the legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne, who died of a suspected heart attack in Thailand Friday, with a minute’s silence.
Players from both teams also wore black arm bands, while the handful of early-morning spectators in the stands also stood in respect.
Pakistan added just 57 runs at snail’s pace in the morning session.
Haq was the slowest of the Pakistan pair, adding just six runs in the first hour and not hitting a boundary until the 90th minute.
He was lucky to survive a caught-behind appeal on 143 off Lyon that the Australians didn’t challenge, when replays showed it hit the bat.
But Azhar put on a solid 208-run stand for the second wicket with Haq and then another 101 for the third wicket with Azam, who was run out for 36.
Azhar was finally caught reverse sweeping part-time spinner Marnus Labuschagne after batting for just four minutes under nine hours.
Mohammad Rizwan (29) and Iftikhar Ahmed (13) remained not out.
For Australia’s pace-cum-spin attack it was a hard toil as Labuschagne (1-53), Cummins (1-62) and Nathan Lyon (1-161) were among wickets.
Spearheads Mitchell Starc (0-71) and Josh Hazlewood (0-53) went wicket-less.
Pakistan lost only Imam-ul-Haq in the first two sessions as they added 149 runs after resuming the day on 245-1.
Haq completed 150 before he was trapped leg-before by Cummins soon after lunch.
Haq, who unsuccessfully reviewed the decision, batted for nearly nine hours and hit 16 boundaries and two sixes.
Azhar lifted Lyon toward deep mid-on to complete his 19th century in his 92nd Test — his fourth against Australia in 12 matches.
Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998 for security reasons, and on Friday, at least 62 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque in Peshawar, about 190 kilometers (120 miles) west of Rawalpindi.
The tourists will play three Tests, as many one-day internationals and a single T20I.
Azhar and Haq hundreds put Pakistan in driving seat in first Test
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Azhar and Haq hundreds put Pakistan in driving seat in first Test
- Azhar knocked 185 and Haq a career-best 157 to guide Pakistan to 476-4 against a hapless Australian attack
- Australia will need another 272 runs to avoid the follow-on against Pakistan's wily spinners
Elite local gaming talent honored at Saudi Esports Federation Awards
- Ceremony in Riyadh celebrated the outstanding achievements of teams, individuals and rising stars in the Kingdom’s growing gaming industry
- Winners announced across 22 categories, including Best Team, Best Rising Player, Best Roster, and Best Content Creator
RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation on Thursday night hosted the sixth edition of the SEF Awards presented by J Event, an annual awards ceremony celebrating the outstanding achievements of the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem.
Held at SEF Arena at Boulevard Riyadh City, the SEF Awards featured a total of 22 categories, including three new categories for 2025. The glittering ceremony shone a spotlight on teams, individuals and emerging talent that have made the biggest impact on the gaming industry, both in Saudi Arabia and internationally.
Award categories for 2025 included Best Rising Player, Best Female Player, Best FPS Genre Player, Best Sports Genre Player, Best Battle Royale Player, Best Fighting Game Player, Best MOBA Genre Player, Best Club, Best Rising Club, Best Roster, Best Coach, Best Esports Media Coverage, Best Streamer, Best Rising Streamer, Best Content Creator, Best Rising Content Creator, Best Female Talent, Best Rising Talent, Best Analyst/Desk Host, Best Caster, Best Stage Host, and Best Rising Female Player.
His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the SEF, said: “Today, we celebrate the spirit of innovation and passion that defines the esports and gaming community. Over the past year, our youth have achieved remarkable milestones, showcasing their skills and further cementing the Kingdom’s presence on the global stage. This year, we honor excellence across 22 diverse categories, each reflecting stories of perseverance, determination and innovation. The federation remains committed to empowering this vibrant community, guided by ambitions without boundaries. Our sector’s future is bright, thanks to the unwavering support of our leadership.”
In a year where Saudi Arabia excelled on the global esports scene, the SEF Awards 2025 highlighted the achievements of numerous local teams and gamers. Twisted Minds were crowned Club Cross-Game Champions in the Saudi eLeagues, while Team Falcons reinforced their dominance by lifting the Esports World Cup 2025 trophy for the second year in a row. The Saudi National Team celebrated a remarkable year, winning gold in Rocket League and Tekken 8 at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games and marking Tala Al-Mazrou’s historic eFootball triumph at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, becoming the first Saudi female athlete to win gold at the Asian Games.
“The SEF Awards 2025 are a powerful reflection of the rapid maturity within our gaming ecosystem,” said Rawan Al-Butairi, CEO of the SEF. “As we mark the sixth edition, we are recognizing the professional standards and competitive excellence that now define Saudi Arabia’s esports landscape. This event stands as a key milestone in our National Gaming and Esports Strategy, showcasing our progress in transforming the Kingdom into the world’s premier global gaming hub. By empowering and celebrating our athletes and creators today, we are securing a sustainable legacy for the generations of tomorrow.”
As well as esports professionals and coaches, the SEF Awards look to recognize key contributors to the industry, including content creators, streamers, coaches and esports professionals whose efforts are an integral part of building an inclusive and dynamic esports ecosystem. This year’s edition of the awards was presented by J Event and sponsored by Golden Scent, NES, Nova, Richy and The Chefz.
The winners of the 22 categories at the 2025 SEF Awards are:
Best Rising Player Presented by J Event: Ziyad Al-Kathiri
Best Female Player Presented by The Chefz: Modhi Al-Kanhal
Best FPS Genre Player: Ahmed Al-Youbi
Best Sports Genre Player Presented by FIFAe: Yazeed Bakhashwin
Best Battle Royale Player Presented by NES: Abdulrahman Al-Fahad
Best Fighting Game Player: Raef Al-Turkistani
Best MOBA Genre Player: Moath Al-Quraini
Best Club Presented by Richy: Team Falcons
Best Rising Club Presented by Richy: Team Stallions
Best Roster Presented by J Event: Twisted Minds — Overwatch
Best Coach: Abdulrahman bin Fayez
Best Esports Media Coverage: Coverage Esports
Best Streamer Presented by J Event: Mofareh Al-Asiri
Best Rising Streamer Presented by The Chefz: Waleed Al-Shamali
Best Content Creator Presented by Golden Scent: Yusuf Hannawi
Best Rising Content Creator Presented by NES: Abdulaziz Al-Mohammadi
Best Female Talent Presented by Golden Scent: Ghala Al-Qahtani
Best Rising Talent: Zaid Al-Farag
Best Analyst/Desk Host: Mohammed Al-Enezi
Best Caster: Ali Darraj
Best Stage Host: Abdulaziz Al-Muhanna
Best Rising Female Player Presented by NES: Tala Al-Mazrou
