Waqar Younis: “I said this guy needs to be benched”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowling great Waqar Younis feels that opening batsman Saim Ayub “needs to be benched” as he is not living up to expectations.
Ayub’s inconsistency has been a huge problem for the men in green, especially since he is one of their brightest prospects.
Waqar noted that even if the 23-year-old is sidelined for some time, it doesn’t mean his international career is over.
“I said this guy needs to be benched,” he said on Sony LIV as quoted by NDTV.
Ayub faltered with the bat during the 2025 Asia Cup, mustering 37 runs in seven games at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
Following the tournament, he missed Pakistan’s two-Test series against South Africa, but returned for the three-match T20I series, where he struck 108 runs, which included a top score of 71 not out, at an average of 54 and a strike-rate of 150.
The Karachi native is now involved in the three-match ODI series and made 39 runs in the 1st ODI.
After the South Africa series, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, before joining 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