David Lloyd: “If you back him right at the beginning and say this kid is going to do this, you’ve got to back him because they will have times when it just doesn’t happen”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former England batsman and iconic commentator David Lloyd has urged Pakistan to stick with opening batsman Saim Ayub, saying he is “like gold dust” as he can be a game-changer and a match-winner.
Ayub hasn’t been able to live up to expectations so far, having amassed 286 runs in 21 T20Is 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 as he scored 57 runs in five games at an average of 14.25 and a strike-rate of 129.54.
The 22-year-old then proceeded to make 65 runs at an average of 21.66 and a strike-rate of 151.16 in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Ireland.
As for the four-match T20I series against England, he was only able to muster two runs in the one match he played.
Despite Ayub’s disappointing run of form, Lloyd compared the Karachi native to England power-hitter Jos Buttler, saying they are rare talents and the kind of players teams always need.
“If you back him right at the beginning and say this kid is going to do this, you’ve got to back him because they will have times when it just doesn’t happen,” he told PakPassion.
“You look at somebody like Jos Buttler who’s one of the best in the world. He doesn’t score every match. He doesn’t. But when he does, he’s devastating and he’ll win a game.
“That’s what you’re looking for – game-changers and game-winners. And there’s always in T20 cricket down the years, there’s always been a bit of mystery and there’s always been somebody with a reputation that he can change the game and that’s the type of player that you need. They’re like stardust, they’re like gold dust, players like that in your team.”
Pakistan will now take part in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which is being played in the West Indies and United States of America.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
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