Pakistan breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday as debutant Kamran Ghulam scored a brilliant century to help his team fight back against England on Day 1 of the second Test. Ghulam’s 118-run knock came under immense pressure after Pakistan’s top-order collapse, providing a much-needed anchor in Multan. 

The 29-year-old stitched a 149-run partnership with opener Saim Ayub before Ayub’s dismissal, leading Pakistan to 259/5 at stumps.

The pitch, which was the same one used in the previous Test, heavily favored the bowlers, adding to the challenge for Ghulam. His determined innings helped steady the team as he replaced senior batsman Babar Azam in the lineup, a role that came with considerable expectations.

Players and pundits from Pakistan, India, and around the cricketing world took to social media to praise Ghulam for his outstanding performance.

Indian spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin was among the first to commend Ghulam’s courage under pressure, tweeting, "With all the talk about Babar, spare a thought for Kamran Ghulam, who walks into a storm and makes a hundred."

Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah, who was dropped for the second and third Test, congratulated Ghulam, writing, "Your hard work and dedication have paid off. Here’s to many more milestones ahead."

Former Pakistan Team Director Mohammad Hafeez, who had previously criticized the PCB for overlooking Ghulam, posted a short but heartfelt message: "Congratulations Kamran Ghulam on your debut century. Many more to come."

Opening batter Ahmed Shahzad, who had openly questioned Ghulam’s absence from the squad, took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the stellar knock, stating, "Maiden Test Century. What a brilliant knock against England, showcasing pure skill and grit."

Former Indian cricketer-turned-pundit Aakash Chopra noted the significance of Ghulam stepping in for Babar Azam, adding, "Replacing Babar in the XI guarantees attention and scrutiny. Kamran Ghulam, making his Test debut at 29, scores a century."

West Indies great Ian Bishop also praised Ghulam for his composure, remarking, "That’s a knock of some courage and skill, given the circumstances and the noise surrounding his Test debut. A dream come true."