Pommie Mbangwa: “He continues to ensure that the limelight isn’t on him. He doesn’t want the hype, but if he keeps batting like he does, there’s no way he can avoid the limelight”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Zimbabwe fast bowler and renowned cricket commentator Pommie Mbangwa has admitted there is no way Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub “can avoid the limelight” if he keeps making big scores.
Ayub has been extremely humble whenever he gets a hundred or makes a strong contribution, choosing to focus on the team’s success rather than his own.
While Mbangwa is aware that the 22-year-old “doesn’t want the hype”, he reiterated that the talented youngster can’t hide from it if his red-hot form carries on.
“He continues to ensure that the limelight isn’t on him. He doesn’t want the hype, but if he keeps batting like he does, there’s no way he can avoid the limelight,” he was quoted as saying by Grassroots Cricket on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ayub recently featured in Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia and made 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
He then took part in the white-ball series against Zimbabwe, scoring 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
As for the three T20Is that followed, the Karachi native finished with 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
Ayub has maintained his momentum in the ongoing South Africa tour as he amassed 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
In the three-match ODI series, he accumulated 235 runs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
Pakistan and South Africa are now involved in a two-Test series, which the Proteas lead 1-0 after securing a two-wicket win in the 1st Test in Centurion.
In the 1st Test, Ayub scored 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″]