SL vs PAK | Wasim Akram lauds Abdullah Shafique’s remarkable 160* runs knock

Pakistan etched history by winning the first Test at Galle by a record chase of 342 runs against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

Most of the credit goes to Abdullah Shafique, who carried the team with his bat in the fourth innings, guiding his side to a 4-wicket win and stayed unbeaten on 160*.

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram has labeled the youngster's knock as one of the best he has seen by a fellow countryman.

Taking to social media platform Twitter, Akram, who has 414 Test scalps, including back-to-back hat-tricks against Sri Lanka, wrote, "Awesome innings … we have seen such a wonderful knock after a long time, especially in the fourth innings and the way the pitch was playing.

"He took his full turn and that's under tremendous pressure… one of the best from a Pakistani I have ever seen...take a bow!".

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Akram has played 104 Tests and 356 ODIs for Pakistan picking 414 and 502 wickets, respectively.

Shafique, on the other hand, has played just six Tests and accumulated 720 at an average of 80.0 with two centuries.

He has also featured in 3 T20Is making 41 runs in all.

The Sialkot-born recorded his first Test ton in Rawalpindi earlier this year against Australia.

Praise from all quarters 

The 22-year-old has received praise from all quarters, including current Pakistan captain Babar Azam, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja, and former captains Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik.

Azam, in the post-match presentation, said, "I think he played well and I am happy for him, he is a youngster for us and the way he applied himself in his sixth Test match and the temperament he showed was something that he and the entire team is proud of."

Afridi, too, took to Twitter to laud Shafique.

He wrote, "An incredible Test match, Abdullah's epic would be remembered for ever! This is an innings that would make Abdullah a bigger star, congratulations to the entire team and management for a wonderful performance. Sri Lanka also deserve credit for a great fight."

The second Test will start on Sunday at Galle with Pakistan leading 1-0.

READ: Abdullah Shafique achieves unique milestone