Shahid Afridi: “Saim has a lot of talent. I hope he performs well. Pakistan needs a batter who can play well in the first six overs”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi knows the men in green really need a batsman “who can play well in the first six overs” and hopes opener Saim Ayub is the answer.
Ayub has found himself under increasing pressure since he has failed to make the most of the opportunities he has been given.
In 21 T20Is, the 22-year-old has scored 286 runs at an average of 15.05 and a strike-rate of 127.67.
Recently, Ayub mustered 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 then proceeded to make 65 runs at an average of 21.66 and a strike-rate of 151.16 in the three-match T20I series against Ireland.
Afridi knows the youngster has “a lot of talent”, but urged him to start performing well in order to keep hold of his spot in the national team.
“Saim has a lot of talent. I hope he performs well. Pakistan needs a batter who can play well in the first six overs,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan are now facing England in a four-match T20I series and are 1-0 down after losing the second game by 23 runs.
Afterwards, they 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