Sikandar Bakht: “Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub have become burdens on the squad”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan pace bowler Sikandar Bakht has named and shamed opening batsmen Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, saying they have “become burdens” on the team.
Ayub and Shafique are two of the most exciting talents in Pakistan cricket and have shown flashes of brilliance at the international level.
However, their inconsistencies when it comes to scoring runs has become a problem as of late, especially since the men in green rely on them to get the team off to good starts.
In the three-Test series against England, Shafique amassed 132 runs, which included a top score of 102, at an average of 26.40.
As for Ayub, he made 155 runs, which included a career-best 77, at an average of 25.83.
Following the England series, Pakistan took on Australia in a limited overs series that consisted of three ODIs and three T20Is.
In the ODIs, Shafique accumulated 113 runs, which included a top score of 64 not out, at an average of 56.50.
Ayub, meanwhile, finished with 125 runs, which included a knock of 82, at an average of 41.66.
Pakistan and Australia then faced each other in a three-match T20I series, but Shafique and Ayub didn’t feature in it.
Considering how up and down their scoring has been, Bakht feels the duo aren’t living up to expectations.
“Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub have become burdens on the squad,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan are now facing Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series, which is level at 1-1 going into the third ODI, which will be held on November 28 in Bulawayo.
In the two matches that have been played, Ayub has amassed 124 runs, which includes a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 124.
Shafique has made 33 runs at an average of 33.
Following the ODI series, Pakistan and Zimbabwe will play three T20Is, with the first match taking place on December 1 in Bulawayo.
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe T20I Series: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan
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