• Ajaz Patel said Babar and Sarfaraz partnership was crucial in the first Test.
• The pitch was really good at the start of the day.
• Patel said the bowlers will have to adjust according to the pitch.

New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel said that Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed‘s partnership was crucial in the first Test here. Pakistan ended Day 1 on 317/5 with Azam remaining unbeaten on 161 against New Zealand.

“Obviously, in the morning there was a little more turn. As the day went on, there was less turn from the surface. Babar and Sarfaraz batted really well. They really applied themselves and looked to put us under pressure for long periods of time. I think if you look at the end of the day, it’s a very balanced first day,” Patel was quoted as saying at the end of Day 1.

Ajaz Patel’s press conference is underway in Karachi.

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Further talking about Day 2, Patel said the bowlers will have to adjust according to the pitch.

“We just have to make sure that we’re on top of our game. We have to understand how the pitch is doing and adapt to that,” Patel added.