Mike Hesson: “Look, Saim is a key player for us and we know that if Saim scores runs, we generally win”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson said the national team generally wins matches if opening batsman Saim Ayub scores runs.
Ayub has recently struggled with consistency, showcasing flashes of brilliance with the bat yet also experiencing periods of poor performance.
Despite his turbulent form, Hesson made it clear that the 23-year-old “is a key player for us” and will continue to be backed.
“Look, Saim is a key player for us and we know that if Saim scores runs, we generally win,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Ayub played in Pakistan’s T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan, and scored 111 runs in five matches, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 22.20 and a strike-rate of 132.14.
Afterwards, he featured in the 2025 Asia Cup and endured a disastrous campaign with the bat as he made 37 runs in seven games at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
Despite his struggles, the men in green still made it to the Asia Cup final, but ended up losing to India by five wickets.
Next up for Pakistan will be a home series against South Africa that will include two Tests, three T20Is, and three ODIs.
The series will take place between October 12 and November 8.
Pakistan squad for South Africa Test series: Shan Masood (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi
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