Abdur Rauf: “Saim Ayub is the type of player [who has the] greatest potential [and] natural ability to counter the fastest bowling”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan speedster Abdur Rauf has lauded Saim Ayub, saying he has the “natural ability to counter the fastest bowling”.
Ayub opens the batting for the men in green and often has to face the opposition teams’ quickest bowlers.
Rauf recognises the remarkable potential of the 23-year-old, who has shown moments of brilliance, and believes he is destined for tremendous success.
“Saim Ayub is the type of player [who has the] greatest potential [and] natural ability to counter the fastest bowling,” he was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ayub recently featured in Pakistan’s T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan, where he accumulated 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.
His form dipped considerably during the 2025 Asia Cup as he was only able to score 37 runs in seven games at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
Nonetheless, the men in green reached the Asia Cup final, where they ended up losing to India by five wickets.
Pakistan is currently hosting South Africa and kicked off the series by drawing the two-Test contest 1-1.
Next up will be a three-match T20I series, which will be held from October 28 to November 1.
After that, Pakistan and South Africa will play three ODIs between November 4 and 8.
Following their series against South Africa, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15.
Pakistan will then face Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a T20I tri-series between November 17 and 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