Shahid Afridi: “Saim Ayub can become the top performer for Pakistan in all three formats of the game”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi firmly believes opening batsman Saim Ayub can become the team’s top performer in all three formats of the game.
Ayub has been unstoppable as of late, marking a significant turnaround from the slow start he endured when he first began his international career.
During the 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.
He then proceeded to score 155 runs, which included a career-best knock of 113 not out, at an average of 77.50 in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe.
As for the T20Is that followed, he finished with 60 runs in two matches at an average of 60.
The Karachi native has maintained his momentum in the ongoing tour of South Africa as he struck 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best 98 not out, at an average of 129.
In the three-match ODI series, he remained red-hot, accumulating 235 runs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
Having seen what kind of havoc Ayub can wreak on opposition teams, Afridi has backed him to become Pakistan’s frontline player in the future.
“Saim Ayub can become the top performer for Pakistan in all three formats of the game,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan and South Africa are now involved in a two-Test series, which the Proteas lead 1-0 after winning the 1st Test in Centurion by two wickets.
In the 1st Tets, Ayub registered 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 be out of action 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