Pakistan's Kamran Ghulam Reflects on ODI Cap Confusion

Pakistan all-rounder Kamran Ghulam shared his experience of not receiving a debut cap before the first ODI against Australia in Melbourne earlier this week. Ghulam, who scored a century on his Test debut last month, participated at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Monday, where Pakistan narrowly lost the series opener. Prior to his Test debut against England, in which he replaced the out-of-form star batter Babar Azam, Ghulam had played only one international match.

On January 13, 2023, Ghulam technically made his ODI debut as a concussion substitute against New Zealand in Karachi. However, he did not get the opportunity to bat or bowl, stepping in for Haris Sohail during the second innings.

In a candid conversation with fellow all-rounder Aamer Jamal, shared in a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) video, Ghulam recounted the events leading up to the first ODI in Melbourne. He mentioned a conversation with Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan, who informed him that he wouldn’t receive an ODI cap at the MCG since he had already debuted the previous year.

"I was eagerly waiting, hoping for my ODI cap. But Rizwan told me, 'you've already debuted, so you won't be getting a cap.' My debut was as a concussion substitute, but I neither batted nor bowled. Haris Sohail was concussed, yet he batted afterward. I fielded for 50 overs," Ghulam explained in the video.