Adam Hollioake: “I haven’t seen a more talented player than Saim Ayub”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batting coach Adam Hollioake has boldly claimed that he has never seen “a more talented player” than big-hitting opening batsman Saim Ayub.
Hollioake noted that he has spent a lot of time with Ayub in the nets and realised just how good the 21-year-old can be.
The youngster recently made his Test debut in the three-match series against Australia and scored 0 and 33 in the third Test in Sydney.
He then proceeded to play in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand and finished with 39 runs in four games at an average of 9.75 and a strike-rate of 130.
Despite not blowing everyone away with his performances, Hollioake insisted that Ayub is the real deal and that people should keep a close eye on him as he is destined for stardom.
“I haven’t seen a more talented player than Saim Ayub. He didn’t play the first 2 Tests [in Australia] so I spent a lot of time with him [in practice],” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“After a couple of Tests, you’ve hardly beaten his edge, haven’t gotten him out, and you realise you’re dealing with a player with a lot of talent.”
Ayub is now playing for the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has amassed 137 runs in four matches, which includes a top score of 88, at an average of 34.25 and a strike-rate of 147.31.
Peshawar Zalmi Squad for PSL 9:Â Babar Azam (captain), Rovman Powell, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Asif Ali, Mohammad Haris, Aamer Jamal, Naveen-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Salman Irshad, Arif Yaqoob, Umair Afridi, Dan Mousley, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Zeeshan, Mehran Mumtaz, Luke Wood, Sufiyan Muqeem, Waqar Salamkheil, Arshad Iqbal, Gus Atkinson, Shamar Joseph