Abdullah Shafique: “Don’t get too harsh on Saim. He is very talented and [a] highly skilled batter. [The] international stage is not an easy place, specially for youngsters to come and perform. Support and backing should be there always”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Abdullah Shafique has urged people not to be “too harsh” on opener Saim Ayub following his disappointing start to T20I cricket.
Ayub has featured in 21 T20Is to date, but only managed to score 286 runs at an average of 15.05 and a strike-rate of 127.67.
In Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, the 22-year-old mustered 57 runs at an average of 14.25 and a strike-rate of 129.54.
He then made 65 runs in three T20Is against Ireland at an average of 21.66 and a strike-rate of 151.16.
Even though his performances leave a lot to be desired, Shafique is confident that Ayub will bounce back as he is “very talented and [a] highly skilled batter”.
“Don’t get too harsh on Saim. He is very talented and [a] highly skilled batter. [The] international stage is not an easy place, specially for youngsters to come and perform. Support and backing should be there always. Do support him in this phase also. He will deliver for sure,” he was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now involved in a four-match T20I series against England and trail 1-0 after losing the second game by 23 runs.
After this, they will take part in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be played 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