Ravichandran Ashwin: “Saim Ayub is a good cricketer, and I hope to see him score runs”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin hopes to see Saim Ayub scoring a lot of runs in the future as he knows the Pakistan opener “is a good cricketer.”
Ayub’s form has been a major concern over the past few months as he has shown flashes of brilliance amid a long stretch of inconsistency.
During the 2025 Asia Cup, the 23-year-old only managed to make 37 runs in seven games at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
Despite a string of disappointing performances in Pakistan’s last few assignments, Ashwin remains confident that Ayub will recover and become a genuine batting threat.
“Saim Ayub is a good cricketer, and I hope to see him score runs,” he was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now facing South Africa, but Ayub did not play in the two-Test series that ended as a 1-1 draw.
However, he was involved in the three-match T20I series and amassed 108 runs in three games, which includes a top score of 71 not out, at an average of 54 and a strike-rate of 150.
Pakistan won the T20Is 2-1 and will shift their focus to the three-match ODI series against South Africa, which will take place from November 4 to 8.
Pakistan will then play a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka from November 11 to 15, before participating in a T20I tri-series with 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
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