Ahmed Shehzad: “You have kept Saim Ayub in the team despite his many failures just to divert attention”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad believes opener Saim Ayub continues to be selected in the team “despite his many failures” to divert attention away from captain Babar Azam.
Ayub has failed to make the most of the chances he has been given, scoring 309 runs in 23 matches at an average of 14.71 and a strike-rate of 122.13.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 22-year-old only managed to make 23 runs in two games at an average of 11.50 and a strike-rate of 79.31.
Shehzad noted that as long as Ayub continues to flop, people’s attention and criticism will be directed towards him instead of Azam, who should be held responsible for his decisions regarding selection.
“You have kept Saim Ayub in the team despite his many failures just to divert attention,” he was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan lost their first two T20 World Cup matches against the United States of America and India before fighting back to defeat Canada and Ireland.
Even though they won their last two group stage games, the men in green failed to advance to the Super Eights.
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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