Fakhar Zaman: “Saim Ayub will leave everyone behind in the next 2-3 years”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman believes opener Saim Ayub “will leave everyone behind in the next 2-3 years”.
Ayub has been an unstoppable force over the last couple of months as he posted a number of big scores, including three centuries.
During Pakistan’s tour of Australia, the 22-year-old made 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
He then went to Zimbabwe and performed even better, amassing 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
As for the three-match T20I series, Ayub ended up with 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
Pakistan then travelled South Africa and Ayub continued to stay red-hot in the white-ball series as he started with 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
In the three ODIs that followed, he finished with 235 runs, which included two hundreds, at an average of 78.33.
As for the two-Test series, Ayub only made 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.
With Ayub having shown how destructive he can be, Zaman feels he is capable of being the best in the world in just a few years’ time.
“Saim Ayub will leave everyone behind in the next 2-3 years,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ayub missed Pakistan’s two-Test series against the West Indies and was also not picked for the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa.
In addition to this, he was left out of Pakistan’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will take place from February 19 to March 9.
Zaman, on the other hand, was recalled to the Pakistan team for the ODI tri-series and Champions Trophy.
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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