Babar reached the milestone by scoring 50 off 58 deliveries, anchoring the innings after arriving at the crease following the fall of the second wicket with the total at 90. His fluent knock included seven boundaries before he was dismissed in the post-lunch session.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka made the breakthrough with a clever round-the-wicket delivery that pitched on an off-stump line and straightened. Babar attempted a straight drive but managed an outside edge that carried safely to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, handing Madushanka his maiden Test wicket.

The fifty marked Babar's 70th score of fifty or more while leading Pakistan across all formats, matching Misbah's record achieved over 189 innings. Babar reached the landmark in 164 innings across 153 matches as captain, while registering his 144th international fifty-plus score overall.

Reflecting the depth of Pakistan's leadership history, Inzamam-ul-Haq follows in third place with 42 fifty-plus scores as captain, ahead of Imran Khan with 38 and Javed Miandad with 34. Internationally, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting holds the all-time record with 129 fifty-plus scores as captain, followed by South Africa's Graeme Smith on 110 and India's Virat Kohli on 99.

Babar is also closing in on another significant record held by Misbah, needing 314 more runs to surpass Misbah's tally of 7,392 international runs as captain and become his country's leading run-scorer in that specific category. Pakistan finished the opening day's play strongly at 281-5 in their first innings.

Pakistan handed Test debuts on the opening day to Tayyab Arif, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Taha and Saqib Khan, while the visitors opted for a four-pronged pace attack. Openers Azan Awais and Tayyab Arif laid a solid foundation for the hosts before Babar's intervention solidified the middle order. Play will resume on Tuesday morning for the second day of the Test match.

The matches are scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore between November 9 and 21. Selectors have opted for a refreshed look following domestic performances, bringing in fresh talent to bolster the batting and bowling options available to the team management.

Left-handed batsman Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Suleman, and promising youngster Sameer Minhas have earned their maiden call-ups to the national Test setup. Their inclusion follows standout campaigns in the ongoing domestic first-class competitions across the country.

Mohammad Taha has emerged as the leading run-scorer in the President's Trophy Grade-I tournament. The 26-year-old has accumulated 730 runs across seven matches, featuring three centuries and a highest individual score of 225 runs.

Mohammad Suleman has also enjoyed a prolific run in the same competition, contributing 652 runs with three centuries to his name. Sameer Minhas earned his selection after scoring 405 runs in seven matches during his debut first-class season, following strong displays for the Pakistan Under-19 side.

Conversely, ten players who featured on the recent tour of England have been left out of the initial selection. The notable omissions include former captain Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Aamir Jamal, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Sajid Khan, Abdullah Shafique, and Ubaid Shah.

Despite missing out on the primary Test squad, fast bowler Ubaid Shah has been named in a 13-member PCB Patron's XI squad. This side is scheduled to play a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka from November 4 to 6 at the Islamabad Club.

Saad Baig will captain the Patron's XI team during the practice fixture. Selectors plan to evaluate the warm-up performances before adding two fast bowlers from the practice squad into the main Test group to finalize the pace attack.

Six members of the initial Test squad will also feature in the warm-up fixture against the tourists to gain valuable match practice. The dual squads provide a platform for fringe players and youngsters to stake a claim for regular positions in the red-ball side.

The complete 14-member Test squad features Babar Azam as captain, alongside Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, and wicketkeeper Mohammad Ghazi Ghori. They are joined by Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, and wicketkeeper Saad Baig.

Middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha returns to the Test setup, rounding out the squad alongside Sameer Minhas and Saud Shakeel. The selection blends experienced campaigners with domestic performers aiming to make an immediate impact at international level.

The Patron's XI squad comprises Saad Baig as captain and wicketkeeper, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Shabbir, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Suleman, and Mohammad Tayyab Arif. Additional members include Mohammad Taha, Saqib Khan, Sameer Minhas, Shoaib Akhtar Junior, and Ubaid Shah.

The upcoming series forms a crucial part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle for Pakistan as they seek to improve their standings in the global table. Home conditions in Rawalpindi and Lahore are expected to play a decisive role in the outcome of the matches.

Sri Lanka's arrival for the bilateral assignment marks another important chapter in the ongoing Test calendar. Both teams will aim to secure vital championship points during the two encounters scheduled for November.

Domestic cricket structures continue to serve as the primary feeder system for the national side, evidenced by the heavy representation of leading run-scorers in this latest squad announcement. The selectors' emphasis on current domestic form highlights a shift toward rewarding consistent performers in first-class fixtures.

Selectors have demonstrated a willingness to overhaul the playing roster following challenging results on the international stage earlier in the season. The omission of ten players from the England tour underscores a rigorous review of team performance by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Middle-order contributions will be heavily scrutinized as new faces like Mohammad Taha and Mohammad Suleman step into the international arena. Their domestic exploits have demonstrated the temperament required for longer formats of the game.

Sameer Minhas adds further youth to the batting lineup after progressing through the junior international ranks and making an immediate impression in senior domestic cricket. His development is viewed as a positive step for the talent pipeline.

The three-day warm-up match at the Islamabad Club will offer Sri Lanka an ideal opportunity to acclimatize to local conditions ahead of the first Test. It also provides the selection panel a chance to finalize their bowling combinations.

As preparations intensify in the coming weeks, the team management will look to foster strong cohesion within the revised squad. The combination of established leadership under Babar Azam and energetic newcomers aims to revitalise Pakistan's red-ball campaign.