David Warner: “He can become the best future batsman of Pakistan”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Australia cricketer David Warner has no doubt that opener Saim Ayub can become Pakistan’s best future batsman.
Ayub endured a slow start when he first debuted in international cricket, but he has slowly started to heat up over the past few months and shown immense potential.
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 tormented Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series, scoring 155 runs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
As for the T20I series, he accumulated 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
The 22-year-old then travelled to South Africa with the men in green and began by making 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He followed it up with 235 runs in three ODIs, which included two hundreds, at an average of 78.33.
As for the two-Test series, Ayub scored 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 on the opening day.
Having seen how destructive Ayub can be, Warner reiterated that the Karachi native has what it takes to become Pakistan’s number one batsman in the future.
“He can become the best future batsman of Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ayub’s injury sidelined him for Pakistan’s two-Test series against the West Indies, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
It also ruled him out of the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will take place from February 19 to March 9.
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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