Wed Oct 16 01:10:18 UTC 2024: ## Kamran Ghulam Shines on Test Debut, Scores Century Against England
**Multan, Pakistan:** In a stunning debut performance, Kamran Ghulam smashed a brilliant century against England in the second Test match in Multan. The 29-year-old batsman, who replaced the struggling Babar Azam in the playing XI, seized his opportunity and silenced his critics with a masterful 118-run knock.
Ghulam’s century came after Pakistan found themselves in early trouble, with England’s Jack Leach taking two early wickets to put the hosts on the backfoot at 19/2. Ghulam, however, stood firm, adding 149 runs for the third wicket with Saim Ayub (77) and a further 65 runs for the fifth wicket with Rizwan.
His innings, which included a lucky escape on 79 when Ben Duckett dropped a difficult chance, was lauded by former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who tweeted, “With all the talk about ‘Babar’ spare a thought for Kamran Ghulam, walks into a storm and makes a hundred. #PAKvENG.”
Ghulam, who had been waiting for his chance after scoring a national record 1,249 runs in the 2020 domestic season, acknowledged that the century was a reward for his patience. “It is delightful to score a hundred and that too as a replacement for Babar Azam, who has been a great player for Pakistan,” he said. “I just took it as a normal first-class match and never took the pressure of a bad start to the team’s innings.”
Meanwhile, Babar Azam, who has been struggling for form in Test cricket, continues to be sidelined after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dropped him from the last two Tests against England. His poor run, marked by a lack of fifties in the last 18 innings, has seen him average a mere 18.75 in his last eight innings on home soil.
With Ghulam’s debut century, Pakistan will be hoping for a strong performance in the second Test to level the series after losing the first match.
First Piper 