Ramiz Raja: “I don’t think Saim Ayub gives you security, he shows flashes of brilliance. If you don’t score 50 off 30 balls then breaking Rizwan and Babar’s opening duo doesn’t make any sense”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja believes opening batsman Saim Ayub doesn’t offer any security as he hasn’t been able to make any big scores in international cricket so far.
Ayub has played 20 T20Is to date, but only made 284 runs at an average of 15.77 and a strike-rate of 130.87.
Ramiz pointed out that if the 21-year-old is not helping Pakistan get off to strong starts, then it would have been useless to break up the previous opening partnership between limited overs captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
“I don’t think Saim Ayub gives you security, he shows flashes of brilliance. If you don’t score 50 off 30 balls then breaking Rizwan and Babar’s opening duo doesn’t make any sense,” he said on his YouTube channel as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
Ayub scored 57 runs at an average of 14.25 and a strike-rate of 129.54 in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
He fared a little better in the three T20Is against Ireland, amassing 65 runs at an average of 21.66 and a strike-rate of 151.16.
Pakistan are now taking on England in a four-match T20I series, which is level at 0-0 after the first game was washed out.
Afterwards, 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’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series:Â 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
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup:Â Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
Saim Ayub though selected will hardly play more than a match. Rizwan and Babar (now scoring at a better strike rate) should open followed by Fakhr. The newcomer, Usman could be tried followed by Azam Khan and Iftikhar – The quick hitting Imad and Shadab should follow them and then the fearsome trio of Shaheen, Naseem and Amir. Haris Rauf should be taken against USA – If he gives too many runs then should be sidelined as the time for experimentation is over.