Mohammad Hafeez: “Saim Ayub should take a break from international cricket”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has recommended that opening batsman Saim Ayub take a break from international cricket.
Hafeez noted that Ayub has been opening the batting for two years, but hasn’t been able to score runs consistently.
Despite this, he pointed out that none of Pakistan’s head coaches in that time have dropped the 24-year-old as an opener.
Even though Ayub has developed into a handy spin-bowling option for the men in green, Hafeez still believes the youngster would benefit with some time away from the national team.
“Saim Ayub has been continuously playing as an opener for the past two years; no head coach has removed Saim Ayub from opening, yet Saim has still failed to deliver performances. Saim Ayub should take a break from international cricket,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X.
Ayub was not selected for Pakistan’s recent two-Test series against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
The men in green will now face England in a three-Test series from August 19 to September 13.
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