Wisden Overview
Ghulam Ali is a solid right-hand opening batsman who possesses resolute concentration and almost limitless patience. He was 23 before he made his first-class debut for Karachi in 1990-91, but he made 101 in his second match, against the New Zealand tourists. The following year his 988 runs at 52.00 were instrumental in guiding Karachi to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and in 1992-93 his good form continued with 595 runs at 42.42. It won him a place in the Pakistan squad for the Sharjah ODI tournament but he didn't play. He didn't have to wait long for his debut which came against West Indies at Cape Town where he made 2 as Pakistan were bundled out for 43. He had to wait two more years for his next chance, in the Pepsi Asia Cup at Sharjah, but after making 13 and 38 he was again dropped, this time for good. He was surprisingly picked as the reserve opener for the 1999-2000 tour to Australia but played only one first-class match. He continues to score heavily in domestic cricket, making two big hundreds for PIA in the 2002-03 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.