Mohammad Hafeez: “Pakistan now has a batter who can chip in with some overs and play as [an] all-rounder too”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan team director and interim head coach Mohammad Hafeez thinks opening batsman Saim Ayub can start playing for the national team as an all-rounder as he is in the midst of completing the transformation.
His comments come after Ayub surprised many people with his brilliant spin bowling while playing for the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The 21-year-old took eight wickets in 11 matches at an average of 22.37 and an economy rate of 7.45.
On top of that, he also had a huge impact with the bat, amassing 345 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 31.36 and a strike-rate of 157.53.
“Pakistan now has a batter who can chip in with some overs and play as [an] all-rounder too,” Hafeez was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Zalmi reached the playoffs in PSL 9, but had their campaign ended when they lost to the Multan Sultans in the Qualifier and eventual champions Islamabad United in Eliminator 2.
After PSL 9, Ayub featured in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand and accumulated 57 runs in five games at an average of 14.25 and a strike-rate of 129.54.
He also bowled a total of two overs, but went wicketless.
The series between Pakistan and New Zealand ended as a 2-2 draw.
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha
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