Taha credits Babar’s guidance after impressive Test debut half-century

Mohammad Taha has praised Babar Azam for helping him produce a confident performance on his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.

The left-hander scored 51 from 105 deliveries on the opening day of the first World Test Championship encounter, sharing a valuable 69-run partnership with Babar, who also reached his half-century. Pakistan finished the day on 281-5.

Taha admitted that making his international debut brought some initial anxiety, but batting alongside the experienced captain helped him settle. Babar and head coach Mike Hesson also encouraged him to trust the methods that had served him well in domestic cricket.

The 26-year-old believes Pakistan can build a commanding first-innings total, targeting more than 400 runs.

Sri Lanka bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk acknowledged his team's disappointing start but welcomed the late wickets, which helped his side recover some ground before stumps.