Opener Azhar Ali became the first batsman to record a century in a day-night Test off a pink ball as he helped Pakistan dominate West Indies in Dubai on Thursday.

Ali's unbeaten 146 guided Pakistan to 279-1 at close on the opening day of the first Test ─ just the second day-night match in Test cricket's 140-year-old history ─ after Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and opted to bat on a flat Dubai stadium pitch.

Asad Shafiq was the other not out batsman with 33.

Ali put his name in the records book with a 366-minute stay at the crease, hitting 14 boundaries, but unlike Adelaide where the attendance was 123,000 over three days, only 500-odd people passed through the gates in Dubai.

Despite the empty stands Ali and Sami Aslam, who fell for 90, started brightly with an imperious 215-run stand for the opening wicket.

Ali drove off-spinner Roston Chase to mid-off for his ninth boundary to complete his 11th Test century ─ his second in three matches ─ before pumping the air in jubiliation.

Aslam, 20, missed out on a hundred by 10 runs when he swept Chase onto his stumps. He hit nine fours in his 290-minute stay at the crease.

It was a second time unlucky for Aslam who was run out for 82 in the Birmingham Test against England two months ago.

West Indies took the second new ball as soon as it was due after 80 overs with Pakistan on 249-1 but failed to get another wicket.

Chase was the lone wicket-taker with 1-63 in 21 overs.

Earlier Ali and Aslam dominated the bowling in the first two sessions as the two openers added 91 in the second session after they were 81-0 at tea.

West Indies used up both of their referrals, first against Ali off paceman Jason Holder when the batsman was on 38, and then on Aslam (69) off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo -- both leg-before appeals.

West Indies' spinners failed to create any problems for Pakistan's openers who flourished as the day progressed.

It couldn't have been a better start for Pakistan in a match marking their 400th Test, as they won a crucial toss and were given a rock solid start against the West Indies, who entered the Test with three seamers and two spinners.

Pakistan handed Test caps to middle-order batsman Babar Azam and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz.

Second session

Pakistan openers Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam stroked confident half-centuries to anchor their team's rock solid start in the first day-night Test against West Indies in Dubai on Thursday.

Ali was unbeaten on 89 and Aslam 75 not out to take Pakistan to 172-0.

Ali, playing his 50th Test, steered paceman Miguel Cummins for a double to reach his 21st half century. hitting eight boundaries.

Aslam was equally resolute as he knocked his fifth boundary off spinner Roston Chase for his third half-century in his fifth Test as the two openers added 91 in the second session after they were 81-0 at tea.

West Indies' spinners failed to create any problems for Pakistan's openers who flourished as the day progressed.

West Indian captain Holder brought on his part-time spinner Kraigg Brathwaite in the 15th over and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo in the 21st but there were no signs of spin.

First session

Ali and Aslam gave provided Pakistan a firm start as the hosts were 81-0 at tea.

Ali was unbeaten on 38 and Aslam was 37 not out as West Indies' pace-cum-spin attack failed to strike on a flat grass-less pitch which is expected to take spin after three days.

Ali, who has so far hit five boundaries, had a life when Leon Johnson failed to hold on a sharp chance at gully off West Indian pacer Miguel Cummins on 17.

West Indian captain Jason Holder brought on his part-time spinner Kraig Brathwaite in the 15th over and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo in the 21st but there were no signs of spin.

Aslam has so far hit three boundaries in his 82-ball stay.

Toss

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Thursday elected to bat first in the first of the three-Test series against the West Indies at Dubai.

The Misbah-led Pakistan side becomes the second Test nation behind Australia to host a day-night Test, which also happens to be Pakistan's 400th Test.

During the toss, Pakistan captain unveiled two changes in the line-up from their last Test against England at The Oval.

Read: Will cricket see more pink than red?

Middle-order batsman Babar Azam, who hit record 360 runs in the recently concluded three-One-Day International series on the back of three centuries, makes his Test debut alongside all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz.

Pakistan, who have not lost a Test series in United Arab Emirates since 2010, are termed favourites by the experts to win the series.

Team line-ups:

Pakistan: S Aslam, A Ali, A Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), B Azam, S Ahmed (wk), M Aamir, W Riaz, S Khan, M Nawaz, Y Shah.

West Indies: K Brathwaite, L Johnson, DM Bravo, M Samuels, J Blackwood, R Chase, S Dowrich (wk), J Holder (c), D Bishoo, M Cummins, S Gabriel