Shan Masood praises Kamran Ghulam's century, says 'never easy to replace one of the best batters'

Following Pakistan's recent victory over England in the second Test, captain Shan Masood reflected on the team's journey and performance. The win marked Masood's first as captain, ending a six-match losing streak that had burdened the team.

“The first one is always special, especially after some rough times,” Masood stated. He credited the players for their determination and strategy, emphasising the importance of taking 20 wickets to secure the win.

“Three years and 11 months creates hunger; you can't doubt the effort and commitment.”

The captain noted the significance of planning and execution in their success. “We tried green seamers against Bangladesh and were a bit off, but Multan offered some spin. Noman and Sajid are seasoned campaigners,” he remarked.

Masood praised his team's collective effort, acknowledging that every player contributed to the victory.

He specifically commended Kamran Ghulam's performance, who replaced a key batter and scored a century, stating, “It’s never easy to replace one of the best batters in the world, but to get that century was special.”

"I read some things that were horrid even before he played his first Test match, so I can’t even imagine the pressure someone can be under, but we were all behind him. From the get-go, he seemed like he belonged. To get that century, that was special.”

The captain also highlighted Saim Ayub’s maturity during the first innings, showcasing the growth of the young players in the squad.

This victory marked Masood's first as captain, breaking a six-match losing streak.

The match saw Pakistan taking charge from the start, posting 366 runs in their first innings.

England responded with 291 runs, trailing by 75 runs. The bowling unit, led by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, was the driving force behind Pakistan's success. Sajid Khan’s exceptional performance, claiming seven wickets in the first innings and two more in the second, earned him the Player of the Match award.

Reflecting on the balance between spin-friendly and other types of pitches, Masood added: "We cannot prepare spin pitches on every venue. Pakistan has to take up the challenge to play on both batting and bowling pitches."

Pakistan secured victory after ‘resting’ three of its top players: Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah. The decision followed the team’s disappointing performance in the first Test against England, where they lost by an innings in Multan.