Waqar Younis: “It’s not that he is not talented; he is very talented. I think he is the future of Pakistan cricket”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pace icon Waqar Younis strongly believes big-hitting opener Saim Ayub “is the future of Pakistan cricket.”
Ayub has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his international career and is one of the top young stars in the country.
Even though concerns have been raised about his inconsistency with the bat, Waqar emphasised that the 23-year-old is “very talented.”
That being said, he acknowledged if Ayub isn’t pulling his weight, he should be sidelined in order to rediscover his form.
“It’s not that he is not talented; he is very talented. I think he is the future of Pakistan cricket. But sometimes when things are not going right for you, you just keep going in the shell, keep going down and down, and that’s what is happening here with him. You know, he is a youngster, you really need to look after them sometimes, by just not playing them sometimes,” Waqar said on Sony LIV as quoted by NDTV.
Ayub recently featured in the 2025 Asia Cup, where he amassed 37 runs in seven games at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
He then took part in Pakistan’s home series against South Africa, but started off by missing the two Tests.
He did play in the T20I series and showed a lot more promise as he racked up 108 runs, which included a top score of 71 not out, at an average of 54 and a strike-rate of 150.
As for the ODIs, he struck 169 runs, which included two half-centuries, at an average of 56.33.
Next, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, before participating in a T20I tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe between November 17 and 29.
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