Saim Ayub Archives

Shaheen Afridi comments on Babar Azam, Saim Ayub omission from ODI squad

DHAKA: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi addressed questions over the exclusion of key players Babar Azam and Saim Ayub from the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, set to begin tomorrow at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

All three ODIs, scheduled for March 11, 13, and 15, will be played at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Speaking at a pre-series press conference on Tuesday, Afridi stressed that no one has been “dropped” and that the selections are aimed at testing bench strength and giving opportunities to emerging talent.

“Look, no one has been dropped for this series. We just wanted to give our youngsters a chance to show their skills,” Afridi explained.

“They are our future, and this series against Bangladesh is the perfect opportunity for them to understand their roles ahead of bigger events like the World Cup next year.”

The Pakistan squad for the series features six uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, and Shamyl Hussain.

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Afridi confirmed that Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, and Shamyl Hussain will make their ODI debuts, with Farhan and Sadaqat opening the innings and Hussain at one-down.

Addressing the expected challenges in Dhaka, Shaheen Afridi highlighted that Pakistan’s strength lies in its pace attack and downplayed the idea of relying heavily on spinners, referencing the West Indies’ spin-heavy strategy at the same venue during an ODI in October 2025.

“This will not be happening. Pakistan is known for fast bowling. I will back our pacers to take wickets, while the spinners will contribute and play their role in the win,” he said.

Afridi also acknowledged Bangladesh’s home advantage but expressed confidence in Pakistan’s preparations.

“Any team is tough in their own conditions. Bangladesh plays very good cricket at home, and we have prepared accordingly,” he added.

“Our recent ODI series against South Africa and Sri Lanka have been encouraging, and we want to continue that momentum.”

READ: Shaheen Afridi confirms three debutants in first ODI against Bangladesh

Abhishek Sharma joins Saim Ayub on unwanted duck list

AHMEDABAD: India opener Abhishek Sharma joined Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub on an unwanted list with his third consecutive duck in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Sharma, 25, was clean bowled without scoring against the Netherlands in India’s ongoing clash.

The dismissal mirrored his duck in the Pakistan fixture, where skipper Salman Ali Agha removed him in the first over

With this duck, Abhishek Sharma entered the list of players with the most ducks recorded in a single calendar year. Saim Ayub leads the record with six ducks, achieved in 2025.

Most T20I Ducks in a Single Year

6 – Saim Ayub (Pakistan, 2025)
5 – Chalermwong Chatphaisan (Thailand, 2024)
5 – Kushal Bhurtel (Nepal, 2024)
5 – Dharma Kesuma (Indonesia, 2025)
5 – Parvez Hossain Emon (Bangladesh, 2025)
5 – Abhishek Sharma (India, 2026)

The southpaw also became the third player in T20 World Cup history to record three ducks in his first three innings and only the second Indian batter to record three ducks in a row, matching Washington Sundar’s unwanted record from 2019-2020.

The southpaw also became the third player in T20 World Cup history to register three ducks in his first three innings and only the second Indian batter to do so in consecutive innings.

Three Ducks in First Three T20I WC Innings

Ashish Nehra (IND) in 2009

Roger Mukasa (UGA) in 2024

Abhishek Sharma (IND) in 2026

Nonetheless, India posted a strong 193-run total against the Netherlands, thanks to Shivam Dube’s 66 off 31, including six maximums and four boundaries.

At the time of filing this story, the Netherlands were 57-2 in eight overs with Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann at the crease.

Note: A statistic in this story has been revised to correct an earlier error.

READ: Shadab Khan hits back at critics over India defeat

Saim among four players signed by Hyderabad for PSL 11

Saim Ayub is among four players signed by the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Hyderabad for the upcoming edition of the tournament, set to begin on 26 March.

The franchise revealed the signed players through its social media accounts.

“Big energy entering your feed. A warm welcome to Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Maaz Sadaqat, and Akif Javed to Team Hyderabad,” the caption read.

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A post shared by Kingsmen Hyderabad (@kingsmenhyderabad.psl)

Saim, who previously represented Peshawar Zalmi, was retained in the Platinum category for a whopping PKR 126 million, making him the most expensive Pakistan player in the league.

Whereas Usman Khan, who is in the Diamond category for PKR 46.2m. Meanwhile, Akif Javed (Gold) and Maaz Sadaqat (Emerging) have been signed for PKR 19.6 and 35 million respectively.

Earlier, the new outfit also strengthened the batting unit with the addition of Australia’s ace batter Marnus Labuschagne. Marnus will be playing in the tournament for the first time.

The franchise is yet to be officially named, with the launch event set for tomorrow at the Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad.

According to the organizers, the launch event will also include a live concert and fireworks, with singer Saif Samejo set to lightup the ceremony.

Moreover, as part of the launch activities, a rally will be organized from Karachi to Hyderabad to celebrate the introduction of the new franchise and engage cricket fans across the region.

For those unaware, the Hyderabad franchise, one of two new teams joining PSL 11 alongside the Sialkot Stallionz, was secured by Sarwar’s Kingsmen Group through the auction with a winning bid of Rs 1.75 billion ($6.25 million).

The franchise have already stacked up their coaching staff with the likes of prominent names.

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Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie will oversee the team as head coach. The 50-year-old has previously worked in Pakistan cricket and was appointed as head coach of the national Test side in April 2024.

Meanwhile, Bradburn will work as the fielding coach under newly-appointed head coach Jason Gillespie.

Bradburn brings significant experience to the role, having served Pakistan in multiple capacities in recent years.

The landmark edition of the league, PSL 11, will begin on 26 March, with the auction scheduled for February 11.

READ: India announce Harshit Rana replacement in World Cup squad

Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed make massive gains in ICC T20I rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub has reclaimed the top spot, while mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed achieved a career-best ranking in the latest ICC T20I rankings released on Wednesday.

In the ICC T20 Batting rankings, opener Sahibzada Farhan slipped two places, dropping from fifth to seventh with 715 points.

However, the biggest movement among Pakistan batters came from Saim, who made a strong jump of eight places to reach 27th, while captain Salman Ali Agha climbed 12 spots to 29th, now sitting on 589 points.

On the other hand, former skipper Babar Azam dropped three places to 34th, while Mohammad Rizwan fell six spots to 67th with 479 points.

Fakhar Zaman also slipped five places to 74th, and young pacer Hasan Nawaz moved down six positions to 90th.

Pakistan’s biggest highlight came in the ICC T20I bowling rankings, where mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed jumped to a career-best second position, now holding 748 points and closing in on India’s Varun Chakravarthy, who remains at the top.

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Spinner Mohammad Nawaz also made a major leap, climbing eight places to seventh with 672 points, strengthening Pakistan’s presence in the elite bracket of T20I bowlers.

Among other Pakistan bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi moved up five spots to 19th, while Salman Mirza slipped four places to 22nd and Sufiyan Muqeem dropped five positions to 38th.

Additional changes include Saim Ayub slipping four spots to 58th, Haris Rauf falling nine places to 66th, Shadab Khan making a sharp rise of 33 places to 72nd, while Faheem Ashraf dropped 11 spots to 87th.

In the T20I all-rounders rankings, Saim Ayub climbed back to No.1, dethroning Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, who now sits second. India’s Hardik Pandya retained the third position.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz moved up one place to fourth with 230 points, while Shadab Khan surged 13 positions to reach 26th.

Faheem Ashraf slipped six places to 46th, and skipper Salman Ali Agha rose seven spots to 54th. Shaheen Afridi, meanwhile, dropped two places to 69th.

READ: Peshawar Zalmi confirm Babar Azam’s retention price

Saim Ayub reveals game-plan after Australia victory

LAHORE: Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub explained his approach after delivering a match-winning performance against Australia in the T20I series opener played here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Set stiff 169, Australia fell short by 22 runs and could only muster 146-8 at the end of their 20 overs.

Saim delivered with bat and ball to seal a convincing win for the home side.

The 23-year-old scored 40 runs from 22 balls with the aid of a boundary at top of the order.

He then backed up his batting with a clinical three-over spell, taking two wickets while giving away only 29 runs. His scalps included Matthew Short and dangerous Travis Head.

The left-hander was looking good before getting caught after managing 23 from 13 balls with the help of two sixes and two fours.

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He then backed up his batting with a clinical three-over spell, taking two wickets for just 29 runs. His scalps included Matthew Short and Travis Head.

Speaking in the post-match presentation after receiving the player of the match award, Saim mentioned difficult conditions and revealed his plan in the opening over of Australian innings.

“I think the conditions were a bit challenging, but our plan was to dominate with the new ball as much as possible,” he said.

He furhter remarked on Pakistan’s strategy to keep the batters in check by bowling with precise lengths.

“The goal was to dominate sensibly by calculating the innings, watching the ball, and enjoying the process,” he added.

We knew that if we hit a good length consistently, it wouldn’t be easy for the batters to score. That was the strategy,” Saim Ayub concluded.

The second T20I will be played on 31 January at the same venue.

READ: Sialkot Stallionz appoint Tim Paine head coach for PSL 11

Babar Azam, Saim Ayub climb ICC rankings ahead of Australia T20Is

DUBAI: Pakistan batters Babar Azam and Saim Ayub have received a timely boost in the latest ICC T20I batting rankings, released ahead of the Green Shirts’ home series against Australia.

Pakistan are set to host Australia in a three-match T20I series, beginning tomorrow, which will serve as the national side’s final assignment before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

According to the updated ICC rankings, Babar Azam has climbed one place to 31st, while Saim Ayub made a two-position jump to move into joint 35th.

Saim now shares the spot with West Indies batter Brandon King, who also made a significant improvement, climbing 15 places to reach the same position.

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Sahibzada Farhan continues to be Pakistan’s highest-ranked batter in the format, holding firm at fifth in the T20I batting rankings. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha is currently placed at 41st.

Pakistan also witnessed gains in the bowling charts as Abrar Ahmed improved by one spot and is now placed joint fourth, alongside New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy.

Fast bowler Salman Mirza also moved up by one place to sit at 18th. However, all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz slipped two places, dropping to 15th in the latest update.

Meanwhile, Saim Ayub also registered progress in bowling rankings, improving by one place to reach 54th.

READ: Salman Ali Agha defends Babar Azam despite below-par BBL

Saim Ayub hits ton in scenario-based practice match

LAHORE: Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub dazzled with a century during the scenario based pracitce match ahead of the three match T20I series against Australia.

The national team is currently involved in a training camp, commenced on Sunday. The Green Shirts will undergo another three hour training session tomorrow.

On day two of the training camp, the T20 squad played a scenario-based practice match in which both teams were assigned different targets.

Opening batter Saim Ayub showcased his batting prowess, scoring 106 runs, including eight sixes and nine fours.

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Meanwhile, Faheem Ashraf was hurt and went back to the pavilion, after being hit by an attempted shot from Babar Azam.

For the unversed, the series will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, from 29 January to 1 February. The games will start at 4pm PKT with the coin toss set to take place at 3.30pm PST.

Australia are set to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, 28 January and will play just their second series in the format on Pakistan soil after a solitary T20I in April 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistan squad for Australia series

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq

READ: Shadab reflects on Pakistan preparations ahead of T20 World Cup

Saim Ayub loses top spot in T20I all-rounder rankings after Sri Lanka series

DUBAI: Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has slipped from the number one spot in the latest ICC T20I all-rounder rankings following a subdued performance in the recently concluded three-match series against Sri Lanka.

Ayub, primarily known for his batting, managed just 30 runs across two innings as the series ended in a 1-1 draw, with the second match abandoned due to rain.

He did not get an opportunity to bowl in the series, resulting in a drop to second place in the all-rounder rankings with 269 points.

The top spot is now held by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, who leads with 289 points.

The 23-year-old had first reached the summit on October 1, overtaking India’s Hardik Pandya, before briefly losing it to Raza in November, reclaiming it, and now ceding it once again in Wednesday’s update.

In the ICC T20I batting rankings, Ayub maintained his 37th position with 551 points.

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Babar Azam, who missed the Sri Lanka tour, slipped three places to 32nd with 562 points, while Sahibzada Farhan moved up one spot to fifth after scoring 51 and 9 in two innings.

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, who hit a 45 off 12 balls with five fours and three sixes in the third T20I, rose 13 places to 41st in the batting charts.

In bowling rankings, Abrar Ahmed, who took three wickets in the first T20I but went wicketless in the third, dropped one place to fifth.

Mohammad Nawaz fell two spots to 13th, while Shaheen Afridi, sidelined with injury, slipped five places to 25th. Saim Ayub also dropped 12 places to 54th in bowling rankings.

Meanwhile, Salman Mirza made a significant jump of 16 places to 19th after taking 3-18 in the only match he played against Sri Lanka.

READ: PCB issues advertisement to sell Multan Sultans ahead of PSL 11

Saim Ayub opens up on his evolution as all-rounder

Pakistan’s rising star Saim Ayub has traced his evolution from a specialist top-order batter to an all-rounder back to his time in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with Peshawar Zalmi.

Ayub first announced himself on the national radar during PSL 2023, when he enjoyed a breakout season with the 2017 champions.

Operating primarily as a batter, the left-hander amassed 341 runs in 12 innings at an average of 28.41 and an impressive strike rate of 165.53, performances that fast-tracked his entry into Pakistan’s senior men’s team.

However, it was the following PSL season that marked a defining shift in Ayub’s career trajectory.

No longer limited to batting duties, the 23-year-old emerged as a genuine utility player for Zalmi, contributing decisively with the ball. He claimed eight wickets in nine innings at an outstanding average of 22.37.

Ayub’s growing confidence and skill with the ball earned him extended opportunities at the international level, where he has since developed into a dependable all-round option for Pakistan across formats.

To date, he has taken 34 international wickets, underlining his growing value beyond his batting credentials.

His most notable success has come in T20I, where he has picked up 21 wickets in 28 innings, maintaining an impressive average of 24.33 and an economy rate of just 6.90.

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Those numbers propelled him to the top of the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings in October last year, overtaking India’s Hardik Pandya.

Currently featuring for Sylhet Titans in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025–26, Saim Ayub reflected on his remarkable transition in an exclusive interview with an international cricket news website.

The young all-rounder credited both his PSL exposure and the faith shown by coaches at domestic and international levels.

“I used to do a little bit of bowling in club cricket as well, but since the PSL happened, Peshawar helped me a lot,” Ayub said.

“And then when I came into the Pakistan team, they showed belief in me and did a lot of technical and tactical work with me.”

Ayub admitted that even he did not foresee such rapid improvement in his bowling output at the highest level.

“To be honest, I was not expecting that I would see such good bowling figures,” he said. “But the credit goes to the coaches who worked so much, and I also put in full effort. If I can help the team, then why not?”

The spinner reserved special praise for Pakistan’s current bowling coach, Ashley Noffke, describing the Australian as instrumental in refining his bowling craft.

“The bowling coach we currently have in the Pakistan team has worked a lot on our bowling and has helped me a great deal,” Ayub said. “He’s Australian, and he’s a really good coach. I’ve learned a lot because of his bowling input.”

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Saim Ayub regains top spot in ICC T20I All-Rounder Rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub has reclaimed the number one spot in the latest ICC T20I all-rounder rankings, following the team’s impressive performance in the home tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

The 23-year-old, who scored 118 runs across five innings at a strike rate of 114.56 and picked up three wickets in four games, delivered strong performances in the final two matches, scoring 27 and 36 while taking a wicket in each.

These contributions, particularly in the decisive games, helped Ayub overtake Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza to reclaim the top spot with 295 rating points.

Raza, who briefly held the top ranking, is now second with 289 points.

Another standout performer for Pakistan was Mohammad Nawaz, whose all-round brilliance earned him both the Player of the Series and Player of the Match in the final.

Nawaz finished as the leading wicket-taker of the series with 10 scalps in five matches at an exceptional average of 10.20.

With the bat, he added 52 runs at a strike rate of 162.50, propelling him three places up to fourth in the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings.

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Nawaz also climbed two spots to 11th in the ICC T20I bowling rankings, while teammate Abrar Ahmed, who picked up six wickets in four matches, jumped four places to fourth.

Shaheen Afridi retained his 18th spot, Sufiyan Muqeem slipped four places to 32nd, and Salman Mirza advanced four places to 34th.

Saim Ayub made a significant leap in the bowling rankings as well, rising 12 places to 39th.

In the batting charts, Sahibzada Farhan, the highest run-scorer of the series with 191 runs at a 146.92 strike rate, dropped two spots to sixth after managing only 32 runs in the last two matches.

Babar Azam slipped one place to 30th, while Saim Ayub climbed two places to 35th.

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha saw the biggest rise, jumping 11 spots to 52nd, whereas Mohammad Rizwan, currently absent from the T20I side, dropped eight places to 55th.

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