Babar Azam: “Saim Ayub is [a] different batter who brings impact and can change the game within [a] few overs”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has hailed the impact of opener Saim Ayub, saying he is a “different batter” who can “change the game within [a] few overs”.
Ayub has yet to register his first half-century in international cricket despite having played 23 T20Is to date.
This has caused some fans and pundits to question whether he should be opening the batting or in the Pakistan team at all.
Despite this, Azam has thrown his support behind the 22-year-old from Karachi and seems intent on giving him more chances to prove himself.
“Saim Ayub is [a] different batter who brings impact and can change the game within [a] few overs,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Ayub wasn’t able to have much of an impact as he mustered 23 runs in two matches at an average of 11.50 and a strike-rate of 79.31.
Pakistan lost to the United States of America and India before rebounding to defeat Canada and Ireland.
Even though they ended the group stage on a high, the men in green couldn’t book their spot in 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
[TS_Poll id=”85″]