Ahmed Shehzad: “In a country where there aren’t many players, when you find someone like this, you have to support him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Veteran batsman Ahmed Shehzad wants Pakistan to keep supporting Saim Ayub as he considers the opener to be a rare talent.
Ayub has been incredibly inconsistent with his run-scoring as of late, which has sparked questions as to whether he belongs in the national team.
Having seen what the 23-year-old can do when he is in form, Shehzad feels it would be a mistake to cast him aside.
“It’s turning out to be a blessing in disguise for us that we have this kind of talent. He was with us at Quetta Gladiators, where he hardly got any chances. He worked hard and started playing with more flair. Then he had one good season. In a country where there aren’t many players, when you find someone like this, you have to support him,” he was quoted as saying by ARY News.
Ayub recently played in the 2025 Asia Cup and had a campaign to forget as he made 37 runs in seven games, which included four ducks, at an average of 5.28 and a strike-rate of 97.36.
Pakistan then faced South Africa, but Ayub did not take part in the two-Test series.
He returned for the three-match T20I series and put on a show as he smashed 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 maintained his momentum in the three-match ODI series as he has accumulated 169 runs, which included two half-centuries, at an average of 56.33.
Next up for Pakistan will be three ODIs against Sri Lanka from November 11 to 15, after which the men in green will be involved in a T20I tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 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