Mohammad Amir: “In my opinion, Fakhar and Haris should open with Saim coming at number three”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has floated the idea of opener Saim Ayub dropping down to number three.
Ayub has endured an extremely turbulent time as an opening batsman as he has struggled to score runs consistently.
During the 2025 Asia Cup, the 23-year-old had a nightmare campaign as he was limited to 37 runs in seven games at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
Taking into account the Karachi native’s struggles, Amir recommended putting him at one down to see if he can influence the game more significantly.
In Ayub’s place at the top of the order, Amir wants to see Mohammad Haris open with Fakhar Zaman.
“In my opinion, Fakhar and Haris should open with Saim coming at number three,” he was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ayub didn’t feature in Pakistan’s two-Test series against South Africa, which concluded as a 1-1 draw.
He is now playing in the three-match T20I series and made 37 runs while taking two wickets as well.
Once the T20Is are done, Pakistan and South Africa will face each other in a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8.
Following this, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, before participating in a T20I tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe 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