Shaheen Shah Afridi: “Saim Ayub is getting better and better Masha’Allah and what a joy to watch! Keep shining”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi has hailed the recent performances of opening batsman Saim Ayub, saying he is “getting better and better”.
Ayub has significantly picked up the pace after enduring a slow start to his international career.
During Pakistan’s white-ball tour of Australia, he accumulated 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
The 22-year-old then travelled to Zimbabwe with the men in green and scored 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
He then featured in the three-match T20I series and struck 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
Pakistan are now in South Africa and Ayub continued to impress, amassing 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
In the ODI series, the Karachi native finished with 235 runs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
Afridi is excited to see what Ayub achieves in the future and urged him to “keep shining” for the national team.
“Saim Ayub is getting better and better Masha’Allah and what a joy to watch! Keep shining,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan and South Africa are currently involved in a two-Test series, which the Proteas lead 1-0 after claiming a two-wicket win in the 1st Test in Centurion.
In the 1st Test, Ayub posted scores of 14 and 27.
The 2nd Test began on January 3 in Cape Town, but Ayub fractured his ankle while fielding on the opening day and will now remain sidelined for up to six weeks.
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″]