Desire to succeed overrode the pressure of replacing Babar Azam: Kamran Ghulam

Kamran Ghulam scored a patient century on Day 1 of the second Test between Pakistan and England at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, October 15, making his long-awaited international debut memorable.

The right-handed batter walked out to bat after Pakistan lost two wickets in the early goings of the first session. He showed no signs of nerves as he went on to score 118 off 224 balls, hitting 11 fours and a solitary six.

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Ghulam had to wait for nearly four years to make his debut for Pakistan and he admitted that he found it to be frustrating. He noted that the years of churning out runs in the domestic circuit prepared him for the rigours of international cricket.

"It has been frustrating waiting for nearly four years to finally get a chance to play for Pakistan. I had so much passion and wanted to do well when I got the chance. I waited patiently as I knew sooner or later I would get my chance. I think years of grinding it out in domestic cricket has given me the temperament and skills to play on all sorts of pitches and all types of bowlers. Just the habit of getting runs in domestic cricket prepares you for the big stage, rest is all about temperament and handling the pressure," Kamran said as quoted by NDTV.

Kamran Ghulam speaks about pressure of replacing Babar Azam

The pressure on a player who makes his international debut is already immense. However, in Ghulam's case, the pressure was more than normal as he was replacing the talismanic Babar Azam, who had been dropped after going through a lengthy lean patch in the red-ball format. Ghulam, 29, admitted that there was a lot of pressure on him but his desire to do well for his country outweighed it.

"Yes the pressure was there playing in his (Babar) place but I think the desire I had to succeed overrode that pressure," Ghulam stated.

The century came at a time when the selectors and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were facing the wrath of the critics for daring to drop Babar for the last two Tests against the Three Lions.

"I am just happy that he (Kamran Ghulam) got his chance at last and he grabbed it with both hands," a national selector said.

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Apart from Ghulam's century, Saim Ayub scored a 160-ball 77 as Pakistan finished Day 1 at 259/5 after Shan Masood won the toss and opted to bat first. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha are the overnight batters and they would have the responsibility of forming a big partnership to propel Pakistan towards a formidable first innings total.