Abdul Razzaq: “Batters like Saim Ayub only need one good innings to make a comeback”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan selector Abdul Razzaq believes opening batsman Saim Ayub only needs “one good innings” to become a deadly force.
Ayub has not had many impactful performances at the international level, amassing 284 runs in 20 T20Is at an average of 15.77 and a strike-rate of 130.87.
Since the 21-year-old has yet to make a fifty, his critics have questioned whether he should be opening the batting or in the team at all.
However, Razzaq has come to the Karachi native’s defence, stating that the big-hitter will turn his fortunes around and showcase the talent he possesses.
“Batters like Saim Ayub only need one good innings to make a comeback,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Ayub only managed to muster 57 runs at an average of 14.25 and a strike-rate of 129.54.
He then featured in the three-match T20I series against Ireland and made 65 runs at an average of 21.66 and a strike-rate of 151.16.
Pakistan are now playing a four-match T20I series against England, which is tied at 0-0 after the first game was washed out.
Following this, the men in green will take part in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
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