Basit Ali: “He automatically becomes the favorite of whoever happens to be the captain”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali said opening batsman Saim Ayub “automatically becomes the favorite of whoever happens to be the captain” even though he has “a total lack of game awareness”.
Basit expressed frustration over Ayub’s repeated dismissals, particularly highlighting his tendency to throw away his wicket while attempting the pull shot.
He added that the 24-year-old must show greater common sense and develop a better understanding of his game, rather than falling into the same trap repeatedly.
“Common sense only comes into play when you believe in yourself; without that self-belief, nothing will happen. The way he is getting out playing those pull shots without properly judging the ball clearly reflects a total lack of game awareness. There is nothing we can do. Vo sabka laadla hai (He is everyone’s darling); he automatically becomes the favorite of whoever happens to be the captain,” Basit told ARY News as quoted by NDTV.
Ayub wasn’t picked for Pakistan’s ongoing two-Test series against the West Indies, which is taking place in Trinidad and Tobago.
After their tour of the West Indies, Pakistan will take on England in a three-Test series from August 19 to September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, 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, 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