Ramiz Raja on Babar Azam and Saim Ayub: “Number four is not Babar’s ideal position. Honestly, he should open the innings. Considering Saim Ayub’s current form, he can be utilised as a floater in the middle order”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja believes Babar Azam should be reinstated as an opener in T20Is, with Saim Ayub shifting into a floating role in the middle order.
Ramiz argued that Azam is not suited to batting at number four in the shortest format and should return to the top of the order, where he previously enjoyed a lot of success as Pakistan’s go-to opener.
Even though Ayub’s T20I form has been inconsistent, Ramiz feels the 24-year-old can still add value in a middle order role.
“Number four is not Babar’s ideal position. Honestly, he should open the innings. Considering Saim Ayub’s current form, he can be utilised as a floater in the middle order,” he was quoted as saying on X.
Azam was recently reappointed as Test captain and will now lead Pakistan in their two-Test series against the West Indies, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
The men in green will then tour England for three Tests from August 19 to September 13.
Ayub failed to make the cut, with his last Test match coming in January 2025.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah