Babar Azam: “He has the ability to turn the game around when he’s in good form. He’s a game-changer”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Babar Azam acknowledged opener Saim Ayub is a “game-changer” when he is in good form.
Ayub has endured a turbulent start to his international career before hitting a golden run of form towards the end of 2024.
During this period, the 23-year-old 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.
Unfortunately for Ayub, he fractured his ankle shortly after and was sidelined for months.
He ultimately made his comeback during the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), but couldn’t have the same kind of impact as he was limited to 174 runs in 10 matches for the Peshawar Zalmi at an average of 17.40 and a strike-rate of 125.17.
Following PSL 10, Ayub made his international comeback and played in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore, where he was only able to score 49 runs at an average of 16.33 and a strike-rate of 144.11.
Things got even worse for the Karachi native during Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh as he mustered 28 runs in three T20Is at an average of 9.33 and a strike-rate of 121.73.
Even though Ayub hasn’t lived up to expectations since returning from his ankle injury, Azam knows how lethal he can be once he catches fire.
“He has the ability to turn the game around when he’s in good form. He’s a game-changer,” the 30-year-old was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Ayub will be looking to post some big scores in Pakistan’s next assignment, which will be a tour of the West Indies that consists of three T20Is and three ODIs to be played from August 1 to 12.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan Squad for West Indies ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
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