Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Pakistan middle order batsman Kamran Ghulam is fully aware of how good Babar Azam is and thus called him “a legend”.

Azam hasn’t been at his best over the past few months, but Ghulam knows how quickly he can turn things around.

Ghulam’s comments come after he replaced the 30-year-old for the second and third Tests against England.

The 29-year-old from Upper Dir made the most of his opportunity as he struck a sensational 118 on debut in the second Test in Multan.

Overall, he finished with 147 runs at an average of 49.

While it remains to be seen what happens when Azam returns to the playing XI, Ghulam is glad that he stamped his authority when given the chance to prove himself at the highest level.

“Babar is a very good player and at the back of my mind I was thinking he’s a legend, a very good player,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Azam only featured in the first Test against England and made scores of 30 and 5.

Despite missing the second and third Tests, Pakistan ended up winning 2-1, which earned them their first Test series victory on home soil since 2021.

Both Ghulam and Azam were then involved in Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia, which consisted of three ODIs and three T20Is.

In the ODI series, Ghulam only batted once and made five runs, while Azam finished with 80 runs at an average of 80.

Ghulam didn’t feature in the three-match T20I series, but Azam mustered 47 runs at an average of 15.66.

After the Australia series, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe, but Azam was rested for the tour.

Ghulam, on the other hand, was selected and did well in the three-match ODI series, amassing 120 runs, which included a career-best 103, at an average of 60.

The men in green and Zimbabwe then played three T20Is, but he didn’t take part in the series.

Pakistan will now take on South Africa in three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.

The T20I series will begin on December 10, while the ODI and Test series will get underway on December 17 and December 26 respectively.

Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)

Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)

Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha

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