Pakistan's batter Kamran Ghulam made an outstanding debut, scoring a brilliant century against England on the first day of the second Test in Multan.
The 29-year-old hit 118 off 224 balls, which included 11 fours and one six, guiding Pakistan to a solid 259-5 by stumps. Ghulam's impressive performance came after Pakistan faced early trouble, losing two wickets for just 19 runs.
Ghulam, who replaced the out-of-form Babar Azam in the line-up, formed a crucial 149-run partnership with Saim Ayub (77) for the third wicket. He also built a 65-run stand with Mohammad Rizwan (37*), helping Pakistan recover and finish the day in a strong position. Ghulam reached his century after 280 minutes at the crease, hitting a boundary off Joe Root, becoming the 12th Pakistani batter to score a century on Test debut.
This achievement comes after Ghulam’s long wait for a place in the national team, following his record-breaking performance in the 2020 domestic season, where he amassed 1,249 runs.
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However, as Ghulam's name trended on social media, an old controversial video from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) resurfaced. In 2022, fast bowler Haris Rauf slapped Ghulam on the field after the latter dropped a catch during a Lahore Qalandars match. Though the incident drew attention, the two players quickly made peace, with Rauf hugging Ghulam later in the match.
Despite this past controversy, Ghulam's Test debut has now overshadowed the incident, with his century making headlines and offering Pakistan a fighting chance against England. His knock was eventually ended when he was bowled by Shoaib Bashir just half an hour before the close of play.
