Pakistan opener Saim Ayub: “I am scoring runs and I am in good touch, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I need to know what my team demands from me. I don’t want to overexaggerate anything now”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub admitted he has been “scoring runs” and is “in good touch” at the moment, but insisted that he doesn’t “want to overexaggerate anything now”.
Ayub is keeping his feet on the ground as he wants to stay focused and continue winning matches for his country.
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 take part in Pakistan’s white-ball series against Zimbabwe 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 three-match T20I series, he made 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
Pakistan then headed to South Africa and Ayub continued to remain red-hot as he smashed 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
As for the three ODIs that followed, the Karachi native finished with 235 runs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
“I am scoring runs and I am in good touch, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I need to know what my team demands from me. I don’t want to overexaggerate anything now,” Ayub was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan and South Africa just finished playing a two-Test series, which the men in green lost 2-0.
Ayub made 41 runs at an average of 20.50, but didn’t bat 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’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