Three captains, three bold declarations: Pakistan continue to produce thrilling Tests
For the second time in their Test history, Pakistan drew a Test match with just one wicket remaining as the ICC World Test Championship series against New Zealand ended in a 0-0 draw.
With light fading in Karachi on day five, all four results were still on the cards. Pakistan were 15 runs away from a win and New Zealand just needed one wicket to win a Test series in Pakistan for the first time in more than fifty years.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, on a golden run since his comeback into the Test side this series, made his first Test century in nine years to keep Pakistan in the hunt after New Zealand had them at 0/2 at stumps on day four.
At 80/5, New Zealand seemed to be on course for a win when Sarfaraz and Saud Shakeel came together to resurrect Pakistan's innings with a century stand.
When that stand was broken after tea, New Zealand yet again edged ahead but Agha Salman hung around with Sarfaraz to push the game into the final hour.
Stalemate 🤝
— ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2023
Pakistan and New Zealand play out a thrilling draw!#WTC23 | #PAKvNZ | đź“ť https://t.co/5TMMWQ0jQl pic.twitter.com/5Q5IpChBB5
The visitors clawed back into the contest with three wickets in the space of five overs late in the day, including that of Sarfaraz. But Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed held on and Naseem even smashed a six and a four an over before it was called off to threaten a late Pakistan heist.
Thrillers in Pakistan continue with bold declarations
Pakistan have now gone eight home Tests with no wins. Their last victory on home soil came against South Africa in Rawalpindi in February 2021.
But, there's been no shortage of drama in the Test matches in the country. Last month, a bold declaration from Ben Stokes opened up the Rawalpindi Test that England won by 74 runs to start their series on a winning note.
In the last Test against New Zealand, Babar Azam threw caution to the wind by declaring with about 15 overs left in the day and New Zealand needing 138 runs. The New Zealand batters came out all guns blazing and reached 61/1 in 7.3 overs before bad light called off play.
Little changed in 2023 as Tim Southee became the third captain to make a brazen declaration call in the country. Declaring at 277/5, Southee set Pakistan a target of 318 with more than a day left in the Test and we once again witnessed a dramatic Test match that could have swung whichever way.