Multan, October 15, 2024 – Debutant Kamran Ghulam produced a brilliant century on the opening day of the second Test against England at Multan Cricket Stadium, lifting Pakistan to a solid 259/5 at stumps. Ghulam, who replaced the out-of-form Babar Azam, anchored the innings alongside Saim Ayub, whose fluent 77 further stabilized the hosts’ position.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan initially struggled, slumping to 19-2 within the first 40 minutes of play. England’s captain, Ben Stokes, applied early pressure by turning to spin, and it paid dividends immediately. Left-arm spinner Jack Leach dismantled Pakistan’s top order, dismissing opener Abdullah Shafique for 7 and captain Shan Masood for 3. The early blows seemed to put Pakistan in a precarious position.
However, Kamran Ghulam, showing immense composure on his Test debut, rescued Pakistan from the brink. The 28-year-old right-hander reached his maiden century off 192 balls, striking nine boundaries and a towering six. His aggressive shot off Leach to send the ball sailing over the ropes showcased his confidence, even in the face of pressure. Kamran became the 13th Pakistani cricketer to score a century on debut, joining legends such as Javed Miandad, Younis Khan, and Saleem Malik. He also became the second Pakistani to score a debut century while batting at No. 4, following Malik’s feat in 1982.
Kamran’s exceptional innings, however, came to an end at 118, when he was bowled out by Shoaib Bashir. His dismissal left Pakistan at 254/5, but the foundation had already been laid for a competitive total.
Saim Ayub, contributing a valuable 77, played a crucial supporting role in Pakistan’s recovery. His knock included seven elegant boundaries, but his dismissal came at a pivotal moment when he was caught by Stokes off Matthew Potts’ bowling, falling into an expertly set trap.
At stumps, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan remained unbeaten on 37, alongside Salman Ali Agha, who added 5 runs before the close of play. The pair will resume the innings on Day 2, looking to push Pakistan towards a formidable total.
England, buoyed by the return of Stokes from injury, had earlier celebrated their comprehensive victory in the first Test. However, Pakistan, stung by that defeat, made bold changes to their lineup, dropping key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah in an effort to bounce back.
The match remains finely balanced as both sides will seek to gain the upper hand when play resumes on Day 2.
Pakistan Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir