Salman Ali Agha: “I think Saim Ayub is such a player who can serve Pakistan for the next 10 years, and I am really hoping that he does. So, it is essential to back such individuals until a situation arises where it becomes absolutely necessary to make a change”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has refused to drop Saim Ayub as he wants the talented opening batsman to “serve Pakistan for the next 10 years.”
Ayub has had periods of ups and downs throughout his international career, which has led to him getting criticised for his lack of consistency.
With some questioning whether the 23-year-old belongs in the national team, Salman has vowed to keep backing the Karachi native until “it becomes absolutely necessary to make a change.”
“I think Saim Ayub is such a player who can serve Pakistan for the next 10 years, and I am really hoping that he does. So, it is essential to back such individuals until a situation arises where it becomes absolutely necessary to make a change,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Ayub recently played in the 2025 Asia Cup and failed to have any impact whatsoever with the bat as he was restricted to 37 runs in seven games at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
Pakistan are now hosting South Africa on home soil, but Ayub missed the two-Test series, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
He returned for the three-match T20I series and showed signs of getting back into form as he amassed 108 runs, which included a top score of 71 not out, at an average of 54 and a strike-rate of 150.
The men in green and the Proteas will now face each other in a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8.
Afterwards, Pakistan will go head to head with Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, before joining a T20I tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
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