On Tuesday, October 15, Kamran Ghulam made his eagerly anticipated international debut with a patient century on Day 1 of the second Test match between Pakistan and England at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
After Pakistan lost two wickets in the first session, the right-handed batsman came out to bat. He struck 11 fours and a single six to score 118 off 224 balls without displaying any indications of nervousness.
Ghulam acknowledged that he found it disappointing because he had to wait over four years to make his debut for Pakistan. He stated that he was ready for the demands of international cricket because of the years he spent making runs in the domestic circuit.
“Being able to play for Pakistan after nearly four years of waiting has been tough. I wanted to succeed while I had the chance because I was so passionate. I knew I would eventually get my chance, so I waited patiently. I believe that my years of arduous domestic cricket practice have equipped me with the temperament and abilities to play on a variety of pitches and against a wide range of bowlers. According to Kamran, who was reported by NDTV, “just the habit of getting runs in domestic cricket prepares you for the big stage; the rest is all about temperament and handling the pressure.”
Kamran Ghulam discusses the pressure to succeed Babar Azam.
A player making his international debut is already under a great deal of pressure. But in Ghulam’s case, the strain was higher than usual because he was taking the place of the lucky Babar Azam, who had been sacked following a protracted period of poor performance in the red-ball format. The 29-year-old Ghulam acknowledged that he was under a lot of pressure, but that was exceeded by his desire to succeed for his nation.
“Yes the pressure was there playing in his (Babar) place but I think the desire I had to succeed overrode that pressure,” Ghulam said.
The selectors and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were under fire from criticism for their audacity in benching Babar for the final two Test matches against the Three Lions when the century was scored.
A national selector remarked, “I am just happy that he (Kamran Ghulam) got his chance at last and he grabbed it with both hands.”
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Shan Masood won the toss and chose to bat first, and Pakistan ended Day 1 at 259/5 thanks to a century from Ghulam and a 160-ball 77 from Saim Ayub. The overnight hitters, Salman Ali Agha and Muhammad Rizwan, are in charge of establishing a strong combination in order to lead Pakistan to a commanding first innings total.
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