Mushtaq Ahmed: “Give him some time, and he will surely make a strong comeback”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan spin icon Mushtaq Ahmed has no doubt that big-hitting opening batsman Saim Ayub will “make a strong comeback”.
Ayub had been in phenomenal form towards the end of 2024 as he racked up three ODI centuries and a career-best 98 not out in T20Is during Pakistan’s tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
However, during the Test series against South Africa, he fractured his ankle and was subsequently out of action for months.
The 23-year-old ended up making his return at the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), but couldn’t replicate his red-hot form prior to getting injured as he was restricted to 174 runs in 10 matches for the Peshawar Zalmi at an average of 17.40 and a strike-rate of 125.17.
After PSL 10, Ayub played in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore and mustered 49 runs at an average of 16.33 and a strike-rate of 144.11.
He continued to disappoint during Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh as he struck 28 runs in three T20Is at an average of 9.33 and a strike-rate of 121.73.
Ayub fared a lot better in the T20I series against the West Indies as he accumulated 130 runs in three games, which included two fifties, at an average of 43.33 and a strike-rate of 135.41.
As for the three-match ODI series, he finished with 28 runs at an average of 9.33.
Even though his form has gone from red-hot to ice-cold, Mushtaq hopes the selectors give Ayub some time to get back to his best.
“Give him some time, and he will surely make a strong comeback,” the 55-year-old was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Pakistan’s next assignment is a T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in Sharjah, which will take place from August 29 to September 7.
After that, Pakistan will be in action in the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: 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, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem