Shoaib Malik returned from a five-year exile to make a careless England pay, with an unbeaten century putting Pakistan in charge after day one of the first Test in Abu Dhabi.
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Pakistan made just 28 runs in the first hour, but gained a few momentum in the second with the introduction of spin in the form of Rashid, who had given away 29 runs in his first six overs without posing much danger.
But Misbah departed to a thin edge behind off Anderson, as umpire Paul Reiffel had to overturn his initial not-out decision on DRS.
England’s mishaps all came on Tuesday but haunted them all the more by the time Pakistan asked them to start their reply after tea on day two – and in the circumstances, consigned to trying to eke out a stalemate with the bat, they did well to reach stumps with their embryonic rearguard intact on 56 for none.
Apart from Malik and Hafeez, the day was also memorable for senior batsman Younis Khan (38) who became Pakistan’s leading run scorer in Test cricket when he overhauled Javed Miandad’s tally of 8832 runs made in 124 Tests.
England will be particularly frustrated by the fact this is the sixth time this year they have been denied a wicket in Tests by bowlers overstepping.
However there was disappointment in store for Hafeez as he fell short of a first century against England just before tea – leg before to Mark Wood for 98.
Returning to the aspect after a 5-yr absence, Malik hit his third Test century general and his first since 2009.
Malik hit 24 boundaries and four sixes during his 420-ball knock before he smashed a Ben Stokes delivery staright into Ian Bell, who took a well-judged catch at mid-wicket. “If Malik plays the first two sessions on Wednesday, then our position will be further strengthened”, added Younis, looking forward for the second day’s play.
England bowler Stuart Broad admits that he was left feeling “distraught” after a no-ball offered centurion Shoaib Malik an extra life on the opening day against Pakistan. But then Muhammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik established a 168-run partnership before Hafeez got out at 173 runs.
It could have been so different though for opener Hafeez, who edged James Anderson to Ian Bell at second slip and the fielder spilled the catch.
The guests have been additionally boosted earlier than a ball had been bowled, with Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah dominated out of the match with a again damage sustained in ultimate follow on Monday.
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The 34-year-old took full advantage of the lapse and at 26 hit leg-spinner Adil Rashid to the point boundary to reach 3,000 runs in his 45th Test. He is the 17th Pakistani batsmen to score 3,000 or more runs in Tests.
