Sharjeel Khan: “Saim Ayub is very lucky, he has received many chances. We never got that many. Since he’s getting opportunities, he should avail them”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan top order batsman Sharjeel Khan believes opener Saim Ayub should consider himself “very lucky” as he has received more chances than he perhaps deserves.
Ayub’s inconsistency has been a major talking point throughout his international career, with Sharjeel adding that when he was in the national team, players never got as many opportunities as the 23-year-old.
During the 2025 Asia Cup, the Karachi native failed to impress with the bat, mustering 37 runs in seven games at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
Sharjeel wants to see the youngster overcome his setbacks and strongly advised him to seize every opportunity that comes his way.
“Saim Ayub is very lucky, he has received many chances. We never got that many. Since he’s getting opportunities, he should avail them,” he was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now taking on South Africa and began by drawing the two-Test series 1-1.
As for the ongoing three-match T20I series, Ayub has scored 108 runs in two games, which includes a top score of 71 not out, at an average of 108 and a strike-rate of 163.63.
After the T20Is, the men in green and the Proteas will play three ODIs between November 4 and 8.
Following this, Pakistan will meet Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, before being involved in a T20I tri-series against 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