Hashim Amla: “He has a big future ahead of himself. He is a really good find for Pakistan”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic South Africa batsman Hashim Amla believes opener Saim Ayub “has a big future ahead of himself” and “is a really good find for Pakistan”.
Ayub has been one of Pakistan’s best performers as of late, putting up a number of extraordinary performances that prove he belongs at the international level.
During Pakistan’s white-ball series against Australia, he started with 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
Following this, he travelled to Zimbabwe with the men in green and made 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
Ayub also got the chance to play in the T20I series and finished with 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
The 22-year-old has remained in fantastic form in the ongoing tour of South Africa as he hammered 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
Afterwards, he amassed 235 runs in three ODIs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
As for the two-Test series, Ayub made 41 runs at an average of 20.50. However, 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.
With Ayub having shown signs of dominating, Amla admitted that the Karachi native could go on to have a stellar career.
“He has a big future ahead of himself. He is a really good find for Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now involved in a two-Test series against the West Indies and hold a 1-0 lead after winning the 1st Test in Multan by 127 runs.
The 2nd Test will start 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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