Shadab Khan: “Saim Ayub is a star in the making, trust him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan has called on Pakistan to keep their trust and faith in opening batsman Saim Ayub as he is “a star in the making”.
Ayub has started to heat up big time following a slow start to his international career and has been one of Pakistan’s best batsmen over the past couple of months.
During the team’s tour of Australia, he accumulated 125 runs in the three-match ODI series, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
The 22-year-old was then selected for the Zimbabwe series and started off with 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
He also got the chance to play in the T20I series, making 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
Pakistan then toured South Africa and Ayub continued to remain red-hot, scoring 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
In the three-match ODI series, he finished with 235 runs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
He then proceeded to make 41 runs in the two-Test series 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.
“Saim Ayub is a star in the making, trust him,” Shadab said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan and the West Indies are now playing a two-Test series, which the men in green lead 1-0 after winning the 1st Test in Multan by 127 runs.
The 2nd Test got underway 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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