"Daddy hundreds" of 185 from Azhar Ali and 157 from Imam-ul-Haq helped Pakistan score a commanding 476 for four before declaring their first innings on the second day of the opening test against Australia in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

Australia, on their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years, were five for no loss in reply when bad light forced early stumps, with their Islamabad-born opener Usman Khawaja on five and David Warner yet to score at the other end.

Pat Cummins employed no fewer than eight bowlers to try and make inroads into the Pakistan top order, and he resorted to short deliveries when the home side resumed on 245 for one.

Imam was on 143 when Australia made a timid caught-behind appeal against him, which was turned down.

Australia chose not to review the decision but UltraEdge showed a spike as the Nathan Lyon delivery passed the bat.

Cummins then wasted a review trying to get Azhar caught behind in the post-lunch session.

Three balls later, Imam wasted one of his own trying to overturn an lbw decision against him. The bespectacled opener had to go, however, as replays confirmed the Cummins delivery would have gone on to hit the middle stump.

Imam's 157 was studded with 16 boundaries and two sixes.

Marnus Labuschagne ran out Babar Azam, who made 36, with a direct throw and ended Azhar's marathon innings of 185 when he induced a reverse sweep from the batsman.

Number three batsman Azhar hit 15 boundaries and three sixes during his 361-ball stay at the crease.

Babar declared the innings 45 minutes before the scheduled close of play, but the gathering gloom robbed Pakistan of the chance to unleash their fast bowlers with the new ball.

Instead, off-spinner Sajid Khan sneaked in an over before play was called off due to deteriorating light at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

Australia's first tour of Pakistan since 1998 includes three tests, three one-dayers and a Twenty20 International.

Earlier today, the Australia and Pakistan cricket teams observed a minute of silence for the victims of the Peshawar blast and the sudden demise of Shane Warne on the second day of the test match between the two sides in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

A video showing the moment of silence was also posted on social media, with both the teams, as well as the spectators standing somberly.

"It's a sad way to start the day," the television commentator said as players wore black armbands to pay homage to Warne.

Australian cricketer Shane Warne, one of the finest spin bowlers of all time whose talent and personality transcended the sport, died aged 52, on Friday in a suspected heart attack.

In an explosion that took place while Friday prayers were underway at an imambargah plus mosque located in the historic Qissa Khawani bazaar of Peshawar, at least 57 people have been killed and another 194 injured.

In related news, the local authorities have beefed up security arrangements across Rawalpindi and closed the Stadium Road to all traffic, following the blast in Peshawar, reported Geo.

Before the test matches started on Friday, all shopping malls and markets in the vicinity of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium were made to close due to security of the teams.

The local administration has demanded that Rangers and Army officials be deployed near the stadium, who can reinforce the security with police officers as already 450 officials are on duty during the match, according to the report.

The Rawalpindi Division Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and City Police Officer visited Stadium Road to inspect security arrangements.

Australian team in 'really, really good hands'

Hours after the blast, Australia coach Andrew McDonald said that his team is in “really, really good hands” since the team landed in Pakistan. "So we’ll be guided by those people, the experts in the field. If anything were to change, clearly they will be able to be talking about (that) and will make all decisions based on experts' opinions."

The success of Australia’s first tour of Pakistan in 24 years could potentially lead to regular visits by top teams who have largely shunned the South Asian country since a 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore.