Mohammad Rizwan: “Saim Ayub was a huge all-round blow for us, including in the field because he was one of our best fielders, opened the batting, and could bowl eight or so overs”
Image courtesy of: Unsplash
Pakistan ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has praised opening batsman Saim Ayub, calling him one of the country’s best fielders.
Rizwan’s comments came when he was acknowledging how big of a blow Ayub’s ankle injury was to the team.
The 22-year-old fractured his ankle during the two-Test series against South Africa and subsequently missed the two-Test series against the West Indies, ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Rizwan noted that not having Ayub in the team is a major problem as he is an opening batsman who can also have an impact with the ball. Recently, Ayub has been taking an increasing number of wickets with his off-spin.
“Saim Ayub was a huge all-round blow for us, including in the field because he was one of our best fielders, opened the batting, and could bowl eight or so overs,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
In the Champions Trophy, Pakistan were knocked out in the group stage after losing to New Zealand and India.
Their final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
The men in green are now playing a white-ball series in New Zealand, which consists of five T20Is and three ODIs.
Pakistan lost the first two T20Is against the Black Caps and will look to bounce back in the 3rd T20I on March 21 in Auckland.
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