Jason Gillespie: “Particularly in the one-day space, he’s done incredibly well. He’s a fine talent and someone that needs to be nurtured [and] supported”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Former Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie has been very impressed with opening batsman Saim Ayub’s performance in ODIs.

Ayub has scored 515 runs in nine matches at an average of 64.37.

All three of his ODI centuries came during Pakistan’s tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa towards the end of 2024.

Gillespie noted that the 23-year-old is a “fine talent” and urged Pakistan to keep nurturing and supporting him as he develops into a better cricketer.

“Particularly in the one-day space, he’s done incredibly well. He’s a fine talent and someone that needs to be nurtured [and] supported,” he was quoted as saying by respected journalist Saj Sadiq on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Ayub fractured his ankle during the Test series against South Africa, but ended up making his long-awaited comeback during the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he played for the Peshawar Zalmi.

In 10 matches, Ayub made 174 runs, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 17.40 and a strike-rate of 125.17.

He then took part in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh and finished with 49 runs at an average of 16.33 and a strike-rate of 144.11.

The Karachi native didn’t fare much better 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.

Pakistan are now touring the West Indies for three T20Is and three ODIs.

Ayub rediscovered his form in the T20I series as he amassed 130 runs in three matches, which included two fifties, at an average of 43.33 and a strike-rate of 135.41.

The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and the West Indies will start on August 9 in Trinidad.

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