Awais Zia: “It was fun to watch him play”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Awais Zia has admitted that it is fun to watch opener Saim Ayub play.
Ayub is a very attacking player and this aggressive brand of cricket has brought him great success over the past couple of months.
During Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia, he scored 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
Afterwards, he featured in Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe and amassed 155 runs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
In the T20I series that followed, he finished with 60 runs in two matches at an average of 60.
Pakistan then toured South Africa and Ayub kicked off his campaign with 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He remained red-hot in the ODI series, making 235 runs in three games, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
As for the two Tests, the 22-year-old ended up with 41 runs at an average of 20.50. However, it should be noted he didn’t bat in the 2nd Test in Cape Town as he fractured his ankle while fielding on the opening day and will now be sidelined for up to six weeks.
Given Ayub’s blistering batting displays as of late, Awais acknowledged that the Karachi native is an entertaining player.
“It was fun to watch him play,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a two-Test series against the West Indies, which will take place in Karachi and Multan from January 16 to 28.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha
[TS_Poll id=”85″]