Ramiz Raja: “Saim Ayub reminds me of Saeed Anwar”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja said Saim Ayub reminds him of legendary opening batsman Saeed Anwar.
Ayub didn’t get off to the best of starts in international cricket, but has experienced a remarkable turnaround as of late as he has posted a number of big scores.
During Pakistan’s white-ball tour of Australia, the 22-year-old amassed 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
After the Australia series, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe and Ayub continued to remain in blistering form as he accumulated 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
As for the three-match T20I series, he finished with 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
The men in green are now in South Africa and Ayub has shown no signs of slowing down as he smashed 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
In the three ODIs that followed, the Karachi native made 235 runs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
Having witnessed Ayub’s outstanding batting, Ramiz conceded that it was like watching Anwar in action again.
“Saim Ayub reminds me of Saeed Anwar,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan and South Africa are now playing a two-match Test series, which got underway on December 26 in Centurion.
In the 1st Test, Ayub has made scores of 14 and 27.
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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