Aaqib Javed: “Saim Ayub started his career from T20. He was not successful in [the] early phase of [his] career but now has developed a very good temperament for Test cricket as well”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed has praised opening batsman Saim Ayub for his incredible turnaround after not being successful “in [the] early phase of [his] career”.
Ayub was mainly utilised in T20Is when he made his international debut, but kept getting out for low scores, which eventually led to questions being asked about whether he deserved to be in the national team.
However, the selectors persisted with the 22-year-old and he has produced a number of outstanding performances.
In Test cricket, he has scored 323 runs in six matches, which includes three fifties, at an average of 26.91.
As for his T20I career, the Karachi native has struck 498 runs in 27 games, which includes a top score of 98 not out, at an average of 21.65.
Ayub has tasted the most success in ODI cricket so far as he has amassed 414 runs in eight matches, which includes two centuries and a fifty, at an average of 59.14.
“Saim Ayub started his career from T20. He was not successful in [the] early phase of [his] career but now has developed a very good temperament for Test cricket as well,” Aaqib was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
During Pakistan’s white-ball tour of Australia, Ayub scored 125 runs in three ODIs, which included as top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
He followed that up with 155 runs in three ODIs against Zimbabwe, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
As for the three-match T20I series, he accumulated 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
Pakistan are now touring South Africa and Ayub kicked things off with 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
In regards to the ongoing ODI series, the talented youngster has posted scores of 109 and 25 in the first two matches.
Pakistan hold a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd ODI, which will take place on December 22 in Johannesburg.
Once the ODIs finish, Pakistan and South Africa will play a two-Test series, which gets underway on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series:Â Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series:Â Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series:Â Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha