And Abdullah Shafique is the only hero in this win. Shafique played an epic innings. This 22-year-old young opener played a great innings of 160 runs off 408 balls.

Pakistan needed 120 runs and Sri Lanka 7 wickets on the last day to win. Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan’s 71-run stand for the fourth wicket dimmed the Lankans’ chances of a comeback. Prabath Jayasuriya broke the pair by returning Rizwan to 40 runs. After the return of Rizwan, Shafique did not let Pakistan derail despite being under some pressure due to the quick departure of the anointed Agha Salman and Hasan Ali. Shafique led the team to victory with an unbroken partnership of 41 runs with Mohammad Nawaz (19*) in the seventh wicket.

After such an impeccable innings, Shafique was praised by his captain Babar Azam. The Pakistan captain also predicted that Shafique will become one of the world’s best. Babar Azam said, ‘As a young cricketer, you have to do something great to prove yourself. He has to give his best in difficult and different conditions. Shafique has done just that. He has proved his mettle, showed how much he can do and how confident he is. This innings against better quality bowling will boost his confidence to do better in future. I hope he can become one of the best batsmen not only of Pakistan but also of world cricket.’