Babar Azam left surprised as Kamran Ghulam shines with maiden Test century against England

Update: Babar Azam has been omitted from the Pakistan squad for the final two Tests against England as of Sunday (October 13). Kamran Ghulam has been brought in as his replacement for the ongoing second Test at Multan Cricket Stadium, where Shan Masood is currently captaining the team. Despite Azam's absence, Ghulam made a remarkable debut by scoring a century, proving his worth in the team's batting lineup. His performance has highlighted his potential to be a valuable player in upcoming matches for Pakistan.

Kamran Ghulam reached his century in style, hitting a boundary on the last ball of the 74th over. His composed and determined innings on the first day of the second Test saw him face 224 deliveries. Ghulam’s knock included 11 fours and a six, contributing to a total of 118 runs. His impressive debut innings provided stability to Pakistan’s batting order and helped build a solid foundation for the team in this crucial match against England.

Kamran Ghulam’s century on his Test debut made him the 13th Pakistani batter to reach the triple-figure mark in his first red-ball match. His impressive performance garnered widespread attention, earning him praise from fans and fellow cricketers alike. Among those who appreciated his efforts was former Pakistani captain Babar Azam, who shared a story on Instagram to congratulate Ghulam on his remarkable innings. Babar’s gesture highlighted the camaraderie and support within the team, even as Ghulam filled in for him during this series.

Babar Azam’s recent Instagram story has taken the internet by storm, where he shared a picture of Kamran Ghulam celebrating his century. Along with the photo, Babar added a caption that read, “Well played Kamran!” The post quickly gained attention, highlighting the support and camaraderie within the team and drawing praise from fans for Babar’s sportsmanship in celebrating Ghulam’s achievement.

Babar Azam, widely regarded as one of the finest batters of the current era, was dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the final two Tests due to a prolonged dip in form in Test cricket. The star right-handed batter, who turned 30 on Tuesday, has struggled to make an impact in the five-day format, failing to score a fifty in his last 18 innings. His exclusion from the squad marks a challenging phase in his otherwise illustrious career, as he looks to regain his rhythm and form.

In the series opener against England, held in Multan last week, Babar Azam struggled with the bat, contributing 30 runs in the first innings and only 5 in the second. His underwhelming performance was part of a larger struggle for Pakistan, as the visitors dominated the match and secured a win by an innings and 47 runs. Babar’s inability to convert his starts into substantial scores highlighted his ongoing challenges in the Test format.

Alongside Babar Azam, pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah were also excluded from Pakistan’s squad for the final two Tests. However, in a pre-match press conference on Monday, Pakistan’s assistant coach Azhar Mahmood clarified the decision, emphasizing that the trio had been rested rather than dropped from the side. Mahmood’s statement aimed to address speculation around their exclusion, suggesting that the break was intended to manage the players’ workloads and ensure their fitness for future challenges.