Fakhar Zaman: “Hats off to Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub for their incredible performances! They really brought their A game”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman has heaped praise on opener Saim Ayub and fast bowler Haris Rauf for bringing their “A game” as of late.
Ayub has arguably been Pakistan’s best limited overs batsmen over the past couple of months, while Rauf has been leading the way with the bat in white-ball cricket.
During the tour of Australia, Ayub struck 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
Rauf took 10 wickets, which included a five-for, at an average of 12.
He then claimed five wickets in three games at an average of 15.40.
Following the Australia series, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe and Ayub amassed 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
Rauf, meanwhile, picked up three wickets at an average of 32.
In the T20Is, Ayub accumulated 60 runs in two matches at an average of 60, while Rauf finished with three wickets at an average of 10.
Pakistan then embarked on a tour of South Africa and Ayub began by scoring 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He subsequently went on to make 235 runs in three ODIs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
As for Rauf, he went wicketless in both the T20I and ODI series.
Once the limited overs portion of the tour was done, Pakistan and South Africa faced each other in two Tests and Ayub ended up with 41 runs at an average of 20.50.
It should be noted that the 22-year-old from Karachi did not bat in the 2nd Test in Cape Town as he fractured his ankle while fielding on the opening day and will now be out of action for up to six weeks.
Having been among Pakistan’s top performers for the past couple of months, Zaman acknowledged that Ayub and Rauf deserve a lot of credit.
“Hats off to Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub for their incredible performances! They really brought their A game!” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Next up for Pakistan will be a two-Test series against the West Indies, which will be played 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
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