Misbah-ul-Haq: “They are currently playing Saim Ayub, who is not delivering at the moment”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq admitted it is a worrying sign that opening batsman Saim Ayub is “not delivering at the moment”.
Ayub is seen as one of the future superstars of Pakistan cricket, but has failed to make the most of his opportunities in international cricket thus far.
The 22-year-old has played 21 T20Is to date and scored 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, he made 57 runs at an average of 14.25 and a strike-rate of 129.54.
He then proceeded to amass 65 runs in three T20Is against Ireland at an average of 21.66 and a strike-rate of 151.16.
“They are currently playing Saim Ayub, who is not delivering at the moment,” Misbah said on the Star Sports Press Room as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan are now taking on England in a four-match T20I series and find themselves 1-0 down.
After this, the men in green 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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