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Babar Azam reacts to Kamran Ghulam's century on Test debut against England

Ghulam, stepping into the lineup to replace Babar for the match, delivered a game-changing performance with the bat

Babar Azam reacts to Kamran Ghulam's century on Test debut against England PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam praised Kamran Ghulam after his impressive century on Test debut during the second match against England in Multan. Ghulam, stepping into the lineup to replace Babar for the match, delivered a game-changing performance with the bat.

Coming in at a tense moment with Pakistan reeling at 19-2 inside the first 10 overs, Ghulam partnered with Saim Ayub to stage a remarkable recovery. Their 149-run stand for the third wicket brought stability to the innings, with Ghulam remaining composed under pressure. His debut century earned him high praise, including a heartfelt congratulatory message from Babar Azam.

The former white-ball skipper shared a photo of Ghulam celebrating his century on social media, captioned, "Well played, Kamran!"

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Ghulam's century made him the 13th Pakistani to score a century on Test debut, a rare feat that highlights the significance of his performance. The last Pakistani to achieve this milestone was Abid Ali, who scored a debut hundred against Sri Lanka in December 2019.

Here is a list of Pakistan's players who scored a century on their Test debut:

  • Khalid Ibadulla vs Australia — 1964
  • Javed Miandad vs New Zealand — 1976
  • Saleem Malik vs Sri Lanka — 1982
  • Mohammad Wasim vs New Zealand — 1996
  • Ali Naqvi vs South Africa — 1997
  • Azhar Mahmood vs South Africa — 1997
  • Younis Khan vs Sri Lanka — 2000
  • Taufeeq Umar vs Bangladesh — 2001
  • Yasir Hameed vs Bangladesh — 2003
  • Fawad Alam vs Sri Lanka — 2009
  • Umar Akmal vs New Zealand — 2009
  • Abid Ali vs Sri Lanka — 2019
  • Kamran Ghulam vs England — 2024

Ghulam’s milestone came at a crucial juncture, as Pakistan struggled in the early stages of their innings. His partnership with Saim Ayub, who scored 77, helped Pakistan regain their footing. However, Saud Shakeel’s brief stay at the crease, managing just four runs, left more responsibility on Ghulam’s shoulders before Brydon Carse dismissed him.

At the close of Day 1, Pakistan reached 259/5, with Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten at the crease, looking to build on the innings heading into Day 2