Pakistan dominated Australia on the second day of the first Test in Rawalpindi, with veteran batsman Azhar Ali and opener Imam-ul-Haq both scoring hundreds. On a calm and unresponsive Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch, Azhar scored 185 and Haq a career-best 157 to lead Pakistan to 476-4 against a feeble Australian attack. Babar Azam, the captain, declared the innings an hour before the conclusion of the day in the hopes of getting an early wicket, but Australia concluded the day on five without loss after play was halted due to bad light with 15 overs remaining. Usman Khawaja, the left-handed opener, scored five runs, while David Warner had yet to score.
To avoid the follow-on, Australia will need another 272 runs against Pakistan's deft spinners, who are accustomed to the pitch conditions.
The day began on a sombre note as players observed a minute's silence in honour of great Australian spinner Shane Warne, who died of a suspected heart attack in Thailand on Friday.
Both teams' players wore black armbands, and the few early-morning spectators in the stands also stood in reverence.
In his 92nd Test, Azhar lifted Lyon to deep mid-on for his 19th century, his fourth against Australia in 12 matches.
For security considerations, Australia has not visited Pakistan since 1998, and at least 62 people were killed on Friday in a suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque in Peshawar, around 190 kilometres (120 miles) west of Rawalpindi.