West Indies vs Pakistan: Pakistan opener Azhar Ali becomes first triple centurion in day night test cricket

Pakistani opener Azhar Ali wrote his name in history books as he became the first batsman in day-night Test cricket to score a triple hundred. He also adjusted admirably to the pink ball which was used in a test match for only the second time.

Fourteen years ago Azhar Ali had witnessed Inzamam-ul-Haq score a triple hundred in Lahore while he arrived as a substitute fielder.

On Friday Ali notched his own with an unbeaten 302 against West Indies in the second ever day-night Test in Dubai to join a select league of batsmen.

"I still remember I was sent to the ground as a substitute fielder on the day when Inzamam scored that epic triple century," said Ali of Inzamam's 329 against New Zealand in Lahore in May 2002. 

"Now I have my own and it's a great achievement for whichI am proud and can't explain my feelings. It is somethingwhich I will remember my whole life," said Ali whose innings guided Pakistan to an imperious 579-3 declared.

His was the fourth triple hundred by a Pakistani batsman. Apart from him and Inzamam, late Hanif Mohammad knocked337 against West Indies at Bridgetown in 1958 and Younis Khanmade 313 against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 2009.

Ali said he had also watched Younis's triple and missedthe senior batsman who had to withdraw from Dubai Test as hewas still recovering from dengue fever.

"Of course, I missed Younis in this match," said Ali. "He has always been my role model and I was sitting on his seat in the dressing room so I had to keep the honour of that seat as well.

"I am proud that I have matched him because whenever he scores a hundred he takes it to double or big scores," said Ali of Younis who is Pakistan's highest Test run-getter with 9456 in 108 matches.

Since his arrival on the international scene, Ali has impressed with his resolute batting and is likely to anchorPakistan's batting once Younis and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq leavethe stage.     

He has already replaced Misbah as captain of the one-dayteam. Ali dedicated his triple hundred to his parents and alsoto the people of his nation. "First, I want to dedicate my achievement to my parents who have always guided me in my life and next to the people ofmy country who must keep their minds clear and not let themaffect when we don't do well."

Ali believed the pink ball -- used in the day-night Testinstead of the traditional red -- did not cause anydifficulties. "The pink ball did not cause any problems, we sighted it well and that's why scored runs so I am okay with it," said Ali.     

Manufacturers of the pink ball modified its seam fromgreen and white after players had complained sighting problemsin the first-ever day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide last year.