Nasser Hussain: “I’m going to go with Saim Ayub, who I think is a multi-format player. He just had this injury, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be fit for the Champions Trophy, but he could be a dynamic player at the top of the order for Pakistan across all formats”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has picked Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub to be part of the next Fab Four.

The Fab Four is the name given to the top four batsmen in international cricket.

With Ayub having shown immense potential over the past couple of months, Hussain is confident the 22-year-old can rise to the top and be among the best of the best.

“I’m going to go with Saim Ayub, who I think is a multi-format player. He just had this injury, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be fit for the Champions Trophy, but he could be a dynamic player at the top of the order for Pakistan across all formats,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

During Pakistan’s tour of Australia, Ayub made 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 accumulated 155 runs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.

As for the T20Is, he finished with 60 runs in two matches at an average of 60.

Pakistan then went to South Africa and Ayub remained red-hot as he amassed 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.

He then proceeded to make 235 runs in three ODIs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.

In the two Tests that followed, he finished with 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.

Due to his injury, Ayub missed Pakistan’s two-Test series against the West Indies, which ended as a 1-1 draw.

He was in a race against time to make a full recovery for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be held from February 19 to March 9, but eventually wasn’t included in Pakistan’s team for the tournament.

Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah

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