Jason Gillespie: “Saim Ayub is one of the most talented cricketers on the planet. I haven’t seen many better young players at that age have such an impact so early in their career”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Former Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie believes opening batsman Saim Ayub is “one of the most talented cricketers on the planet”.

The 22-year-old is currently out of action with a fractured ankle, but had been in magnificent form prior to that as he notched up three ODI centuries and a career-best 98 not out in T20Is, all of which came during Pakistan’s tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Gillespie admitted that he hasn’t “seen many better young players at that age have such an impact so early in their career”.

“Saim Ayub is one of the most talented cricketers on the planet. I haven’t seen many better young players at that age have such an impact so early in their career,” he was quoted as saying by respected journalist Saj Sadiq on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Ayub missed Pakistan’s two-Test series against the West Indies, the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Pakistan crashed out in the group stage of the Champions Trophy as they lost to New Zealand and India.

Their final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.

Pakistan’s next assignment will be a tour of New Zealand, which will consist of five T20Is and three ODIs that will be played from March 16 to April 5.

Since Ayub is still recovering from his ankle injury, he was not considered for selection.

Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan

Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir

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