Wasim Akram: “I want runs from Saim. Someone needs to talk to him, he’s playing as a pure batter. If he gets wickets, that’s a bonus”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowling icon Wasim Akram said he wants opening batsman Saim Ayub to score runs.
Although Ayub’s batting has fluctuated lately, the 23-year-old has started to claim wickets with greater frequency.
Wasim, however, regarded these wickets as “a bonus,” stressing that Ayub’s primary role in the team is “as a pure batter.”
“I want runs from Saim. Someone needs to talk to him, he’s playing as a pure batter. If he gets wickets, that’s a bonus,” the Sultan of Swing was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ayub endured a torrid time with the bat during the 2025 Asia Cup as he only managed to make 37 runs in seven games at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
Bowling-wise, he picked up eight wickets at an average of 16 and an economy rate of 6.40.
Pakistan are now taking on South Africa at home and drew the Test series 1-1.
They will now play three T20Is from October 28 to November 1 before facing each other in three ODIs between November 4 and 8.
After completing their series against South Africa, Pakistan will go up against Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15.
This will be followed by a T20I tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
Pakistan squad for South Africa T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan squad for South Africa ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem