'Well played Kamran' - Babar Azam lauds debutant Kamran Ghulam's knock against England in 2nd Test

Right-hand batter Kamran Ghulam's first Test appearance for Pakistan against England in Multan saw him score an impressive century. Ghulam's knock got a powerful reaction from former captain Babar Azam.

Ghulam's selection for the crucial No. 4 position came after controversy surrounding Azam's exclusion from the second and third Tests against England. Critics, including former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, had questioned the selectors' decision to 'rest' Babar, calling it a "knee-jerk reaction."

However, Ghulam's performance on Tuesday silenced many. Many social media users claimed that Pakistan had found the "perfect replacement" for Azam. Meanwhile, Babar himself, took to Instagram to share his thoughts and wrote on his story, "Well played Kamran."

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

Kamran Ghulam became the 13th Pakistani to score a century on Test debut

Walking in at 19/2 on a challenging pitch, Ghulam showed remarkable composure and skill. His innings of 118 off 224 balls, including 11 fours and a six, not only steadied the Pakistani innings but also registered his name in the record books. 

Ghulam became the 13th Pakistani batter to score a century on Test debut and the first to achieve this feat against England. Moreover, he joined the elite company of Saleem Malik as only the second Pakistani to score a hundred in their first outing as a No. 4 batsman in Tests.

Debutant's century, along with Saim Ayub's solid 77, helped Pakistan reach a respectable 259/5 at stumps on Day 1. Furthermore, by Lunch of Day 2, the hosts have reached 358/8, with Aamer Jamal and Noman Ali at the crease. Pakistan will look to bounce back in the 2nd Test against England after humiliating loss in the 1st Test of the series despite scoring a lot of runs at the same venue.