Shoaib Malik: “Saim Ayub, regardless of his failures in the past, does not get dropped from the T20 team, never”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has made it clear that opening batsman Saim Ayub should never be dropped from the T20I team.
Malik acknowledged that the 22-year-old got off to a slow start in the format, but has started to make up for it and is showing why he is one of the most exciting and brightest prospects in Pakistan.
In 27 T20Is, Ayub has amassed 498 runs at an average of 21.65 and a strike-rate of 137.95.
“Saim Ayub, regardless of his failures in the past, does not get dropped from the T20 team, never!” Malik was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ayub has been virtually unstoppable as of late as he made 125 runs in three ODIs against Australia, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
During Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe, he continued to impress, amassing 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
In the three T20Is that followed, he made 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
The Karachi native has maintained his momentum in the ongoing tour of South Africa as he amassed 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He then proceeded to score 235 runs in three ODIs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
Ayub will now be involved in Pakistan’s two-Test series against South Africa, which gets underway on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: 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: 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: 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
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