Rawalpindi: Salman Agha cracked a century to lead Pakistan to 299-5 against Sri Lanka in the opening one-day international in Rawalpindi. The match continued despite a suicide attack a few miles from the stadium in Islamabad, which resulted in at least 12 fatalities and several injuries. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced increased security measures around the visiting team following the attack.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Agha scored an unbeaten 105 off 87 balls, marking his second ODI century, while Hussain Talat contributed 62. This partnership lifted the home team from a troubling 95-4 after being sent in to bat. Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga challenged the home side with figures of 3-54, before Agha and Talat stabilized the innings with a 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Talat was eventually dismissed in the 44th over after hitting a six and six fours in his first ODI fifty. Agha's innings, which included nine boundaries, enabled Pakistan to add 104 runs in the last 10 overs, with support from Mohammad Nawaz who scored a swift 23-ball 36 not out.
The visitors gained an early advantage when pacer Asitha Fernando trapped opener Saim Ayub leg-before for six in the fifth over. Fakhar Zaman (32) and Babar Azam (29) contributed 54 runs for the second wicket, as Pakistan slowly reached 50 in the 16th over. Hasaranga then delivered a devastating 16-ball spell, dismissing Zaman, Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan (five).
Sri Lanka faces a target of 300 to secure a lead in the three-match series.