PAK vs SL | Hundred on Test debut was a magical moment, feels Abid Ali
Pakistan debutant Abid Ali described his century on Test debut magical as it came when Test match returned to Pakistan after a decade as he dedicated the ton to his daughter. He shared that Babar Azam calmed him in the middle especially when he knew that he was going to make history with the ton.
It was a dream debut for Abid Ali as he broke quite some records with his maiden ton in Rawalpindi against Sri Lanka. With the feat he became the first batsman in the history of the sport to score a ton on his debut in both in ODIs and Tests.
Abid expressing his joy over the ton termed it as a magical moment as it coincided with the return of Test cricket to the country after a prolonged absence. The opener dedicated the knock to his beloved daughter.
"What can I say? What more can one ask for. Getting a century in my debut Test and that too in the first Test in Pakistan in 10 years is a magic moment for me," TOI quoted Abid as saying so.
"I want to dedicate this hundred to my darling daughter. I also thank my wife, my family, the media and the team management for supporting and encouraging me all the time. Playing in front of my home crowd which backed me from the first ball made the task easier for me."
He got an ODI hundred on debut in Dubai in March this year against Australia but after that series suffered heartbreak when he was not picked for any of the Tests in South Africa and also did not get into the World Cup squad.
Abid, who also became the first Pakistani batsman to score a hundred after 19 years at the Pindi stadium, admitted that Babar Azam calmed him when he was feeling nervous and there was tension for him when he reached his nineties.
"But Babar (Azam) calmed me down and told me to focus as I should not get out after coming so close to my milestone. I learnt about the record of scoring hundreds on debut in Test and ODIs during the tea break and it made me nervous," he concluded.