Saim Ayub: “I think we have a lot of discussions and then his batting ability, especially in the powerplay, is very high”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Big-hitting Pakistan opener Saim Ayub said Babar Azam is a brilliant powerplay batsman as his ability to score runs in that important period “is very high.”
Azam is seen as one of the elite batsmen in the world due to his capability to excel at crucial points in matches, such as the powerplay and death overs.
Having batted often with the 29-year-old, especially as they open the batting for the Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Ayub admitted it is a joy to watch Azam go about his business in the first few overs.
“I think we have a lot of discussions and then his batting ability, especially in the powerplay, is very high,” the 21-year-old was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Ayub recently played for the Zalmi in the 2024 PSL and made 345 runs in 11 matches, which included two half-centuries, at an average of 31.36 and a strike-rate of 157.53.
As for Azam, who captained the team, he was the highest run-scorer in PSL 9 with 569 runs in 11 games, which included a century and five fifties, at an average of 56.90 and a strike-rate of 142.60.
The Zalmi managed to make it to the playoffs, but fell short of reaching the final as they lost to the Multan Sultans in the Qualifier and eventual champions Islamabad United in Eliminator 2.
Peshawar Zalmi Squad for PSL 9: 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
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