Ravi Shastri: “They’ve missed Ayub at the top, and he’s a crucial player”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri said opening batsman Saim Ayub has become a “crucial player” for Pakistan.
Ayub has been in outstanding form over the last few months, but is currently sidelined with a fractured ankle, which he sustained during Pakistan’s two-Test series against South Africa.
The 22-year-old has made three ODI centuries and a career-best 98 not out in T20Is – all of which came during the tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
His injury ruled him out of the two-Test series against the West Indies and the recent ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa.
To make matters worse, the Karachi native won’t feature in the 2025 Champions Trophy as well.
Shastri admitted that not having Ayub in their squad is a big blow for Pakistan, especially considering how dominant he has been as of late.
“They’ve missed Ayub at the top, and he’s a crucial player,” he said on the latest episode of The ICC Review.
The Champions Trophy will be played 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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