Ramiz Raja: “Saim has failed a lot of times, and Pakistan have to take a call on him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has admitted that a tough decision needs to be made about opening batsman Saim Ayub.
Ayub is seen as one of the brightest prospects in Pakistan cricket and has been earmarked for greatness.
However, the 22-year-old has fallen well short of people’s expectations at the international level as he has mustered 286 runs in 21 matches at an average of 15.05 and a strike-rate of 127.67.
In Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Ayub failed to impress at all, scoring 57 runs at an average of 14.25 and a strike-rate of 129.54.
He then proceeded to accumulate 65 runs at an average of 21.66 and a strike-rate of 151.16 in the three-match T20I series against Ireland.
Considering he has continually failed despite being given so many opportunities, Ramiz acknowledged that the selectors and team management need to make a decision on whether to keep sticking with Ayub or give someone else a chance.
“Saim has failed a lot of times, and Pakistan have to take a call on him,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now playing a four-match T20I series against England and find themselves 1-0 down.
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
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