Ramiz Raja: “We struggle for sixes and acceleration in the middle overs which is why we should try Saim Ayub in the middle order. He doesn’t need the circle to hit maximums because he plays proper cricketing shots for fours and sixes”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja believes the men in green should try moving opening batsman Saim Ayub down to the middle order.
Explaining why, Ramiz pointed out that Pakistan “struggle for sixes and acceleration in the middle overs”, which is something Ayub can help rectify.
Ayub’s performance in T20Is has left much to be desired as he has amassed 286 runs in 21 matches at an average of 15.05 and a strike-rate of 127.67.
“We struggle for sixes and acceleration in the middle overs which is why we should try Saim Ayub in the middle order. He doesn’t need the circle to hit maximums because he plays proper cricketing shots for fours and sixes,” Ramiz was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
In Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Ayub only managed to score 57 runs at an average of 14.25 and a strike-rate of 129.54.
He fared a little better in the three-match T20I series against Ireland, making 65 runs at an average of 21.66 and a strike-rate of 151.16.
Currently, Pakistan are facing England in a four-match T20I series and find themselves 1-0 down.
After this, they will be involved 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: 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: 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