Yasir Arafat makes a memorable debut

Yasir Arafat had a dream spell with figures of 7-2-22-3 in the first session of Day 1 of the third and final Test match against India.

Playing Test cricket is every cricketer's dream. Yasir Arafat's dream of representing his country Pakistan in the longest form of the game was fullfilled when the Rawalpindi seamer was selected for the all important 3rd Test at Bangalore. Pakistan has to win the Test match to square the series at one win each.

Maiden wicket

With speedsters Shaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami in the team, Yasir was introduced in the 11th over as a first changed bowler. He picked up his maiden Test wicket in just his 4th over of the batsman who is known for his impeccable technique – Rahul Dravid. The former India captain was caught at first slip by Misbah-ul-Haq.

The debutant by now had shed all the nervousness and struck again in his next over to displace in-form batsman and leading run scorer for India in 2007 – Wasim Jaffer. The Mumbai opener, who struck a brilliant double century in the Kolkata Test was caught unaware, shouldering arms to a straighter one. Yasir Arafat had dismissed the Indian top order cheaply.

VVS Laxman who was promoted ahead of Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh was cleaned up by an Arafat delivery that kept low just before Lunch.