Azhar Mahmood: “He’s not just a rising star; he’s already making his mark and playing a key role in the team’s success”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahmood praised opening batsman Saim Ayub’s massive impact, saying he is “already making his mark and playing a key role in the team’s success”.
Ayub has been in red-hot form over the last couple of months and delivered some exceptional performances.
During Pakistan’s white-ball tour of Australia, he made 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
He then went to Zimbabwe with the men in green and kicked things off with 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
In the T20Is, he finished with 60 runs in two matches at an average of 60.
Pakistan then faced South Africa and the 22-year-old began the tour by smashing 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He then proceeded to amass 235 runs in three ODIs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
“He’s not just a rising star; he’s already making his mark and playing a key role in the team’s success,” Mahmood said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan and South Africa just finished a two-Test series, which the Proteas won 2-0.
Ayub ended up with 41 runs at an average of 20.50.
However, it should be noted that he didn’t bat at all in the 2nd Test in Cape Town as he fractured his ankle while fielding on the opening day and will be 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
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