Imam eyes maiden ton, Pakistan 171-1

ISLAMABAD :Imam-ul-Haq closed in on his maiden test century as Pakistan reached 171 for one at tea on the opening day of the first test against Australia in Rawalpindi on Friday.

The bespectacled 26-year-old raised 105 runs with fellow opener Abdullah Shafique to give Pakistan a strong start after captain Babar Azam's decision to bat.

Imam, who needs eight runs for his first test hundred, and Azhar Ali, on 30, then batted through the entire second session to frustrate Australia.

Imam was not completely at ease initially, but used his feet well against the spinners hitting Nathan Lyon for two sixes during his knock which also included 12 boundaries.

Australia are in Pakistan for the first time in 24 years for a full tour, which could potentially lead to regular visits by top teams who have largely stayed away since a 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore.

Australia players wore black armbands in memory of former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh who died aged 74 on Friday. The teams also observed a minute's silence for the Australian stalwart.

Josh Hazlewood returned from a side injury to replace Scott Boland in Australia's three-pronged pace attack but an early breakthrough eluded the tourists.

Cummins used up a review trying to get Imam lbw by Mitchell Starc, then introduced spin in the eighth over.

Abdullah stepped out to hit Lyon over the long-on rope for a six and Imam would later give Australia's frontline spinner the same treatment.

Lyon finally broke the stand when Abdullah stepped out only to sky the ball high in the air, allowing Cummins to run from mid-off to take a tumbling catch.

All-rounder Cameron Green, who was not even born when Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998, was pressed into attack in the second session