Usama Mir: “Now he has become a star”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan spinner Usama Mir is thrilled to see how far opening batsman Saim Ayub has come in such a short period of time, saying “he has become a star”.
Ayub failed to have much of an impact initially in his international career, which began to raise questions about whether he was ready to play for Pakistan.
Lately, however, the 22-year-old has eased all those concerns as he been in dazzling form.
During Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia, Ayub made 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a 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.
Three T20Is were played after that and Ayub amassed 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
Pakistan are now touring South Africa and Ayub began his campaign on a high as he accumulated 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He maintained his red-hot form in the three ODIs, scoring 235 runs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
Having seen Ayub’s incredible rise to success, Mir is over the moon that the Karachi native is making the most of his opportunities.
“Now he has become a star,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan and South Africa are now playing two Tests, which the Proteas lead 1-0 after claiming a two-wicket win in the 1st Test in Centurion.
In the 1st Test, Ayub made scores of 14 and 27.
The 2nd Test will get underway on January 3 in Cape Town.
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
[TS_Poll id=”85″]