Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez has hit back at critics after Pakistan registered a thumping 152-run victory over England in the second Test at Multan. Pakistan had come under immense scrutiny following the decision to drop Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah from the Test squad ahead of the second Test. However, all three of their replacements starred. Kamran Ghulam, Babar’s replacement, notched up a century on Test debut, while spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali picked up all 20 England wickets between themselves.

“Surely not PR agencies,” controversially tweeted Hafeez after the game, in a post possibly aimed at Babar Azam and co.

Pakistan cricket need impactful performances like Kamran Ghulam , Salman Agha 50, Sajid khan 9 wickets & Noman Ali 11 wickets for winning cause. Surely not PR agencies……

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 18, 2024

Pakistan vs England, 2nd Test: As it happened

It was Pakistan’s first home win since February 2021 and came after they were thumped by an innings in the first Test on the same Multan pitch.

The third and final Test starts in Rawalpindi on October 24.

Noman finished with a match haul of 11-147 while Sajid had figures of 9-204, only the second time in Pakistan’s history that two bowlers took all 20 wickets in a Test.

Pakistan’s last Test win at home came against South Africa in Rawalpindi more than three years ago. It was followed by 11 home Tests without a win.

This also becomes Shan Masood‘s first win as skipper after getting the job last year, including 3-0 and 2-0 whitewashes at the hands of Australia and Bangladesh.

Pakistan’s ploy of dropping ace batsman Babar Azam in one of four changes after the first Test and playing on a reused pitch with three spinners paid off handsomely.

Azam’s replacement, debutant Kamran Ghulam, made a century to anchor Pakistan’s first-innings 366.

Masood praised his side for their character.

“The first one (win) for me and long awaited for the team is always special,” said Masood.

“This has come after some rough times and the boys stepped in after a lot has happened this past week.”

The captain, who like his team had been under fierce pressure in cricket-mad Pakistan, added: “We came up with a strategy to get 20 wickets and we made it happen.

“We were never afraid of taking risks. Three years and 11 months creates hunger, so it’s good to win at home.”

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood praised Kamran Ghulam for rising to the challenge of replacing Babar Azam amid the backlash from fans. Ghulam was one of the names that popped up when Pakistan’s historic victory was discussed across the globe. He certainly had his say in ending Pakistan’s first Test win at home since February 2021. But the journey wasn’t easy for him.

Pakistan’s selection committee took everyone by surprise after dropping the former Pakistan captain from the remaining two Tests against England.

Ghulam was handed his maiden Test cap and placed to fill Babar’s position as Pakistan hunted to level down the series. The batting all-rounder was at the receiving end of criticism from some sections of fans before and during the Test.

Despite a tough time, the 29-year-old showed grit and resilience against a fierce English bowling line-up to keep Pakistan in the thick of the action. With an array of shots, he kept the opposition on their toes and smashed 118 off 124 deliveries.

Masood, impressed by the Ghulam’s “special” century, extended his support after the backlash and admitted that the challenge of filling Babar’s shoes wasn’t going to be an easy challenge.

“For Kami (Kamran Ghulam), it’s never easy. When you are replacing one of the best batters in the world. I read some things that were horrid even before he played his first Test match. I can’t even imagine the pressure that someone can be under. But we were all behind him. From the get-go, he seemed like he belonged. To get that century, that’s special,” Masood said in the post-match presentation.

While Ghulam’s knock set the tone of the Test for Pakistan, it was Noman Ali and Sajid Khan who dictated the outcome with their spin prowess.

The duo took all 20 wickets in the second Test, leaving England completely baffled in the process. While Sajid starred with his figures of 7/111 in the first innings, the plaudits belonged to Noman in the second innings for his splendid effort of 8/46.

With a 125-run victory, Pakistan levelled the series at 1-1, taking the series decider to Rawalpindi, beginning on October 24.

Former cricketer Basit Ali rooted for Babar Azam to return to the Pakistan setup after being dropped from the squad for the second and third home Tests against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reconstituted the new selection committee an hour after Pakistan’s historic loss by innings and 47 runs in the opening Test, the star quartet featuring Babar, former captain Sarfraz Ahmed and speedsters Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were left out of the team.

Babar’s exclusion came as a surprise to many, and left former cricketers and fan bases sharing different opinions about the decision.

But some experts and analysts expected the decision to be made on the back of Babar’s struggle to score a fifty for the past 18 Test innings.

With Babar’s replacement, Kamran Ghulam made a name for himself with a century on his Test debut, the 30-year-old’s return to the squad further became a heated topic for discussion.

But Basit backed the former captain to return to the team and believes that Babar’s once again featuring imminent after the conclusion of the two Tests.

“He still has a place in the team. He will return to the team after two Test matches,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.

Apart from Babar being dropped from the squad, his successor in the white-ball captaincy remains another matter that the PCB needs to resolve.

Babar’s decision came days before Pakistan’s three Tests against England, which began in Multan. According to the rumour mill and various reports, a couple of names have entered the fray for the vacant position.

But Basit believes there are only two candidates suited for the role, “Mohammad Rizwan or Salman Agha will be the next white-ball captain.”

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Babar’s decision to step down from captaincy reflected his desire “to focus more on making a greater impact as a player.”

During his first stint as Pakistan skipper, which began in 2019, he guided the Men in Green to the T20 World Cup semi-finals and final in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

However, after a promising string of results, Pakistan started to slump across all formats. Last year, Pakistan was knocked out of the Asia Cup in the Super Four stage. The downfall continued after Pakistan returned home from the group stage of the ODI World Cup 2023 in India.

He decided to step down from the captaincy, with Shaheen Shah Afridi named his successor. Babar’s second stint began after the PCB decided to reinstate him as the skipper, months before the T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan failed to qualify from Group A after enduring defeats against the USA and arch-rival India. After a poor string of results in his second stint, Babar eventually decided to drop the burden of captaincy from his shoulders once again.

Kamran Ghulam in action for Pakistan against England© AFP

Kamran Ghulam in action for Pakistan against England© AFP

Kamran Ghulam hit a superb century on his debut to guide Pakistan to 259-5 on the opening day of the second Test against England in Multan on Tuesday. The 29-year-old replaced out-of-form Babar Azam at number four and foiled England’s aggressive bowling and fielding to score 118. At close of an even day’s play, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha were unbeaten with 37 and five respectively. The day ended Ghulam’s frustrating long wait for a place in the Pakistan team after he smashed a national record 1,249 runs in the 2020 domestic season. Ghulam led a fightback after the hosts, who won the toss, were struggling at 19-2 with England spinner Jack Leach striking twice in the first hour.

Ghulam added 149 for the defiant third wicket with Saim Ayub, who hit a career-best 77, and another 65 for the fifth wicket with Rizwan.

He reached three figures with a boundary off spinner Joe Root, taking 280 minutes and becoming Pakistan’s 12th batter to score a century in his first Test.

With just half an hour before stumps, Ghulam was bowled by spinner Shoaib Bashir, ending a resolute 323-minute knock spiced with 11 fours and a six.

Ghulam said his century was a reward for his wait.

“It is delightful to score a hundred and that too as a replacement for Babar Azam, who has been a great player for Pakistan,” said Ghulam, who had a big letoff on 79 when Ben Duckett failed to get a difficult chance off Leach.

“I saw that with a bated breath but Almighty was so kind on me,” said Ghulam. 

“I just took it as a normal first-class match and never took the pressure of a bad start to the team’s innings.”

One of a dozen brothers, Ghulam said his century will be celebrated among his big family in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

One brother was there in person.

“It is a family occasion now with my younger brother watching in the stadium, so I am proud of the feat,” he said.

England too will be satisfied after an absorbing day’s play.

They employed a short mid-off and two mid-wicket fielders to get wickets after lunch but the Multan pitch — the same used for the first Test — gave very little help to the spinners after some early promise.

Skipper Ben Stokes, one of two changes from England’s thumping innings win in the first Test, bowled five overs and showed no signs of the hamstring injury that forced him to miss the first Test.

Matthew Potts ended Ayub’s knock when the batsman patted to Stokes at short mid-off while Brydon Carse removed Saud Shakeel for four, the dismissals coming either side of the tea interval. 

Leach has figures of 2-92 while Bashir, Carse and Potts have a wicket each.

Abdullah Shafique was bowled by Leach for seven in the eighth over of the morning with the score on 15.

In his next over, the left-arm spinner had skipper Shan Masood caught low at short midwicket by Zak Crawley for three.

England lead the three-match series 1-0.

Pakistan’s heavy defeat last week — their sixth in as many Tests — prompted the selectors to make wholesale changes, with Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed dropped.

Other than Ghulam, Pakistan also brought in the spin trio of Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood and Noman Ali, leaving them with only one fast bowler in Aamer Jamal.

Kamran Ghulam impressed everyone with his brilliant batting as the Pakistan cricket team star slammed a century on debut during Day 1 of the second Test match against England on Tuesday. It was a show of pure class as the 29-year-old slammed his century off 192 balls with the help of 9 fours and 1 six. Kamran has already proved his mettle in domestic cricket with 16 first-class centuries and his selection was hailed by social media users after the impressive performance. Following the ton, the internet also took aim at Babar Azam for not making use of the multiple opportunities that he received. The former Pakistan skipper was dropped from the squad for the second and third Test encounter.

Earlier, England fast bowler Matthew Potts removed opener Saim Ayub after a half-century before Pakistan reached 173-3 at tea on the opening day of the second Test in Multan on Tuesday.

Imagine benching this BEAST Kamran Ghulam for a mediocre gully cricketer Babar Azam #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/WgB7mHeF0j

— Team Green(@_TeamGreen123) October 15, 2024

Ayub and debutant Kamran Ghulam had lifted Pakistan from a precarious 19-2 with a third-wicket stand of 149 on a used pitch that assisted the spinners.

No.of Fifties by Babar Azam in last 2 years – 0

No.of Fifties by Kamran Ghulam in just 1 match – 1 pic.twitter.com/7jRuR4o4A8

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) October 15, 2024

At the break, Ghulam was unbeaten on 75 while Saud Shakeel was four not out.

Babar Azam fans returning to their shells after seeing Kamran Ghulam dominating England#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/oVMllYY0DP

— Team Green (@_TeamGreen123) October 15, 2024

The left-handed Ayub scored a career-best 77 studded with seven boundaries before he miscued a push off Potts’s penultimate over before tea and was caught by captain Ben Stokes at short mid-off position.

Ghulam, who replaced Babar Azam in one of four changes from Pakistan’s innings defeat in the first Test, also in Multan, has so far hit five fours and a six. 

Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, were hit hard at the start with a double wicket strike by spinner Jack Leach, who was brought to bowl in the sixth over of the day.

Leach has taken 2-62.

Abdullah Shafique was bowled by Leach for seven in the eighth over of the morning with the score on 15.

In his next over, the left-arm spinner had captain Shan Masood caught low at short midwicket by Zak Crawley for three.

England lead the three-match series 1-0.

Pakistan’s defeat last week — their sixth in as many Tests — prompted the selectors to make wholesale changes, with Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed dropped.

Other than Ghulam, Pakistan also brought in the spin trio of Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood and Noman Ali, leaving them with only one fast bowler in Aamer Jamal.

Stokes was back from a hamstring injury for England, replacing Chris Woakes, while fast bowler Potts came in for Gus Atkinson.

(With AFP inputs)

Team Pakistan in action© AFP

Veteran Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has slammed the country’s apex cricket board for excluding domestic stalwart Kamran Ghulam from the team for the 1st Test of a three-match series against England. On Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named a 15-man squad for the series-opener, starting in Multan from October 7. However, there was no place for Ghulam in the team, who has been piling runs in the domestic circuit. In fact, since September 2023, Ghulam has smashed seven hundreds in 13 first-class matches for his side Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), with five hundreds coming in this year alone.

Ghulam was part of the squad for the Bangladesh Test series earlier this month, but did not feature. Despite dropping him from the team, the PCB insisted that the batter is still in their plans.

However, Shehzad slammed chief selector Mohammad Yousuf for his inclusion. In fact, he even asked Yousuf if Ghulam’s exclusion is due to the presence of Babar Azam, who also bats at no. 3.

“Kamran Ghulam has been ignored as Mohammad Yousuf didn’t make him a part of the 15-member squad. Khurram Shahzad is injured, while Aamer Jamal and Shaheen Shah Afridi aren’t fully fit. Despite that, you did not pick Mohammad Ali. It’s hard to understand. How will you justify not picking Kamran and Sahibzada Farhan in the squad? What sin did they commit? Is it because they bat in the same position where Babar bats? When Yousuf was the coach, he left everything on two to three players. Yousuf is the selector and this is the team he is selecting. Give me one logic why Kamran Ghulam was left out?” Shehzad said in a video uploaded on his social media handles.

If Saim & Abdullah can be given Chances then why not Kamran & Mohammad Ali? New Name for Dosti Yaari is “Fear of Failure”. This is Mindless Strategy by Pakistan Cricket Board#PakistanCricket #KamranGhulam #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/l5KhOFMrW2

— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) September 25, 2024

Ghulam, 28, has played just one game for Pakistan, in an ODI against New Zealand last year, although he did not bat or bowl in that game.

The Upper Dir-born cricketer has been in impressive form in the ongoing Champions One Day Cup, scoring 248 runs at an average of 49.60 and a strike rate of 100 in five games.

However, Ghulam was dismissed for a solitary run in Markhors’ Qualifier against the Panthers.