Shoaib Akhtar: “Some investments are for the long term, especially when it comes to Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has urged the selectors to invest in opening batsman Saim Ayub and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed on a long term basis.
Ayub has shown flashes of dominance, especially when he notched up three ODI hundreds and a career-best 98 not out – all of which came during Pakistan’s tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa in 2024.
As for Abrar, he has been given more opportunities in limited overs cricket as of late and has shown a lot of promise.
Having seen Ayub and Abrar’s sensational performances, Akhtar wants them playing for Pakistan consistently.
“Some investments are for the long term, especially when it comes to Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed,” he was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
During Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, Ayub struck 49 runs at an average of 16.33 and a strike-rate of 144.11.
Abrar, meanwhile, took three wickets at an average of 27 and an economy rate of 8.10.
The men in green then toured Bangladesh for three T20Is and Ayub mustered 28 runs at an average of 9.33 and a strike-rate of 121.73.
Abrar didn’t have an impact as well as he went wicketless in the one game he played.
After back-to-back series against Bangladesh, Pakistan embarked on a tour of the West Indies and Ayub began by amassing 130 runs in three T20Is, which included two fifties, at an average of 43.33 and a strike-rate of 135.41.
Abrar did not feature in the T20Is, which the men in green won 2-1.
As for the three-match ODI series, Ayub failed to impress as he finished with 28 runs at an average of 9.33.
Abrar had a solid performance with the ball, picking up three wickets in two matches at an average of 19.
Most recently, Pakistan took on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in a T20I tri-series in Sharjah, which they won.
Ayub struck 111 runs in five games, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 22.20 and a strike-rate of 132.14.
Abrar, meanwhile, was fabulous in the two matches he played as he snapped up six wickets at an average of 4.33 and an economy rate of 3.25.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be the 2025 Asia Cup, which will take place 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
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