Fakhar Zaman: “He is such a great player that if he plays for the next four [to] five years, he will be among the top three players in the world”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman predicted that opener Saim Ayub “will be among the top three players in the world” in the “next four [to] five years” if he continues playing like he has.
Ayub has been virtually unstoppable over the last couple of months as he has delivered a number of match-winning performances.
During Pakistan’s tour of Australia, he amassed 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
He then featured in a three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe and scored 155 runs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
In the T20Is that followed, the 22-year-old made 60 runs in two matches at an average of 60.
Ayub then travelled to South Africa with the Pakistan team and kicked things off with 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He then proceeded to accumulate 235 runs in three ODIs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
As for the two-Test series, the Karachi native mustered 41 runs at an average of 20.50. However, it should be noted that he 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.
Having seen Ayub’s brilliance with the bat, Zaman thinks the opening batsman is something special and has all the potential to become one of the top players in the world.
“He is such a great player that if he plays for the next four [to] five years, he will be among the top three players in the world,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan are now playing a two-Test series against the West Indies, which they lead 1-0 after winning the 1st Test in Multan by 127 runs.
The 2nd Test begins on January 25 in Multan.
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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