Shan Masood: “The decision to rest Babar partially paid off when Kamran Ghulam scored a hundred”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood admitted that the decision to rest Babar Azam midway through the three-Test series against England in October 2024 “partially paid off” when middle order batsman Kamran Ghulam scored a century on debut.
Ghulam was brought into the playing XI and took Azam’s spot, which immediately put him under immense pressure to deliver big results.
The 29-year-old didn’t disappoint as he struck a sensational 118 in the 2nd Test against England in Multan, which came off 224 balls and included 11 boundaries and a six.
Given that the Upper Dir native ended the series with 147 runs at an average of 49, Masood feels that the move to give Azam a break was the right one as it saw the emergence of a new potential superstar in Ghulam.
“The decision to rest Babar partially paid off when Kamran Ghulam scored a hundred,” he told PakPassion.
Following the England series, Pakistan toured Australia and Azam scored 80 runs in three ODIs at an average of 80.
Ghulam, meanwhile, only batted once and made five runs.
In the T20Is that followed, Azam mustered 47 runs in three matches at an average of 15.66, while Ghulam did not feature in any of the games.
Pakistan then travelled to Zimbabwe, but Azam was rested for the series.
Ghulam, on the other hand, got more batting time and performed brilliantly in the three-match ODI series as he finished with 120 runs, which included a career-best 103, at an average of 60.
Three T20Is were played after this, but Ghulam was not part of the playing XI for any of the matches.
Pakistan are now in South Africa and began their tour with a three-match T20I series, where Azam struck 31 runs in two games at an average of 15.50.
Ghulam was once again not part of the T20I squad.
Both players are now involved in the ODI series and in the first two matches, Azam scored 23 and 73, while Ghulam made 4 and 63.
Pakistan hold a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd ODI on December 22 in Johannesburg.
After the ODI series, Pakistan and South Africa will play two Tests, with the first match starting on December 26 in Centurion.
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