Pakistan faced intense scrutiny after a crushing loss to England in the first Test of the ongoing three-match series, prompting the selectors to drop several star players, including an out-of-form Babar Azam. Kamran Ghulam, who replaced Babar, made his Test debut and silenced the critics with an impressive performance.

Ghulam shined under pressure in Multan, reaching the crease with Pakistan struggling at 19/2 after opting to bat first. He played magnificently, steadied the innings and scored a memorable 118 off 224 balls on debut.

ALSO READ: When Haris Rauf slapped Babar Azam’s replacement Kamran Ghulam, who shone on Test debut

Kamran Ghulam’s Journey

At 29 years old, Ghulam has worked hard to reach the international stage. He made his first-class debut in the 2013/14 season and has been a consistent performer ever since, scoring 4,377 runs at an average of 49.17 in 59 matches, including 16 centuries and 20 fifties.

Ghulam has also performed well in List A cricket, amassing 3,344 runs in 94 matches at an average of 42.32, including 8 centuries and 20 fifties. In T20, he has played 73 matches, scoring 1,510 runs at a strike rate of 127.10.

He was called up to the Test squad for the home series against South Africa in 2021, but did not get a chance to play.

A unique international debut

Prior to his Test debut, Ghulam only made one appearance for Pakistan in an ODI against New Zealand in January 2023, where he neither batted nor bowled. Curiously, he doesn’t even appear in the official lineup for that match.

That day, Haris Sohail was hit on the head by a fast bouncer from Lockie Ferguson. Sohail continued to play until his dismissal but could not return for the second innings. Instead of opting for a standard replacement outfielder, Pakistan opted to use a concussion substitute, allowing Ghulam to receive his first cap. Although he was initially expected to contribute as a pitcher, he ultimately did not play during the game.

ALSO READ: ‘Sell cricket for Pakistan’: Former Pakistan player reacts to Babar Azam’s omission from Test squad

Kamran Ghulam records on Test debut

Kamran Ghulam became the 13th Pakistani batsman to score a century on debut. He also made history as the second Pakistani to achieve this feat while batting at number four, a position often considered the most crucial in Test cricket.

The only other player to score a debut century at number four for Pakistan was Saleem Malik in 1982. Furthermore, Kamran Ghulam is now the second-oldest player to score a century on debut, highlighting his impressive entry into cricket. international.

For more updates, follow CricXtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram and YouTube.