The second Test match between Pakistan and England has seen an inspiring performance from Kamran Ghulam, who made his Test debut in this series. Ghulam made an unforgettable impression by scoring a century in his first innings, becoming the 13th Pakistani batsman to achieve this remarkable feat. His stellar performance has garnered widespread acclaim, including praise from former Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
Babar Azam’s Praise for Kamran Ghulam
Kamran Ghulam was given the opportunity to play in this match in place of Babar Azam, who has been struggling with poor form lately. The selectors made the significant decision to include Ghulam in the team, and he did not disappoint. During his innings, Ghulam faced 224 balls and scored 118 runs, which included 11 boundaries and a six. Babar Azam took to Instagram to share his admiration for Ghulam’s performance, posting a story with the message, “Well played, Kamran.” This post quickly went viral, demonstrating the camaraderie and sportsmanship within the team.
Babar’s heartfelt praise for Kamran Ghulam. (Photo- Instagram/PTI)
Record-Breaking Innings by Kamran Ghulam
Kamran Ghulam’s century came while batting at number four, making him only the sixth player in the world to score a century on debut while batting at that position. Notably, he is the first Pakistani batsman in 48 years to achieve this in a debut Test match, with the last being Saleem Malik in 1982. Furthermore, this is the first instance in 24 years of an international cricketer scoring a century in their debut Test batting at fourth position, showcasing Ghulam’s remarkable potential.
Day One Overview: Pakistan’s Performance
Pakistan’s team won the toss and opted to bat first, but their start was shaky as they lost two early wickets for just 19 runs. However, the partnership between Kamran Ghulam and Sam Ayub revitalized the innings, as they built a third-wicket partnership of 149 runs. Sam Ayub contributed significantly with 77 runs, while Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha managed to score 37 and 5 runs, respectively, returning not out at the end of the day. With a total of 259 runs on the board, the Pakistani team now looks to build upon their foundation and set a formidable target as they head into the second day of the match.
