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Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1: Imam Misses Out On Hundred In PAK's Strong Start

Opener Imam-ul-Haq missed out on a comeback century as Pakistan recovered well from a brief collapse on an abrasive wicket to reach 313-5 against world champions South Africa in the first Test in Lahore on Sunday (October 12, 2025). Imam played a fluent knock of 93 in his first Test match after almost two years and together with captain Shan Masood, who made 76, gave Pakistan a strong start to their new ICC World Test Championship cycle with a 161-run second-wicket stand. The three South African spinners toiled hard but caught a break when they claimed three quick wickets without a run before Mohammad Rizwan (62 not out) and Salman Ali Agha (52 not out) struck unbeaten half-centuries and gave Pakistan an early edge against the defending World Test champions.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Shan Masood, right, shakes hand with South Africa's Aiden Markram after the toss before the start of the play of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

South Africa's Wiaan Mulder bowls during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, center, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq, center, plays a shot during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

South Africa's Senuran Muthusamy, center, bowls during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Shan Masood, right, celebrates with Imam-ul-Haq after hitting a boundary during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq celebrates after scoring fifty during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Shan Masood, left, celebrates as teammate Imam-ul-Haq congratulates him after his fifty during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Shan Masood, right, is congratulated by teammate Imam-ul-Haq after his fifty during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq bats during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

South Africa's Kyle Verreynne, right, and teammates appeal successful LBW out of Pakistan's Shan Masood, left, during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Shan Masood reacts as he walks off the field after his dismissal during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

South Africa's Prenelan Subrayen bowls during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

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Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq reacts as he walks off the field after his dismissal during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

South Africa's Tony dy Zorzi, center, celebrates with teammates after taking the catch of Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Babar Azam plays a shot during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

South Africa's Senuran Muthusamy, center, is congratulated by teammates after he taking the wicket of Pakistan's Saud Shakeel during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel, right, reacts as South Africa's Tony dy Zorzi, left, and teammates celerbates after his dismissal during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

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Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

South Africa's Simon Harmer, center, bowls as Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, right, watches during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Babar Azam, front, walks off the field as South African players celebrate after his dismissal during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

South Africa's Senuran Muthusamy bowls during the first day of of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan bas during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha plays a shot during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1
Pakistan Vs South Africa, 1st Test Day 1 | Photo: AP/K.M. Chaudary

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan celebrates after scoring fifty during the first day of first test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan.

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