Tag: Saim Ayub

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.

READ: Steve Smith confirms wearing ‘eye blacks’ in pink-ball Ashes Test

Pakistan’s spinner Abrar Ahmed and opening batter Saim Ayub are among the first players to be directly signed by franchises ahead of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026 auction.

The BPL players’ auction is set for November 30, with 245 overseas players already categorised for the event.

Meanwhile, the tournament is scheduled to be played from 26 December 2025 and will conclude on 23 January 2026.

The BPL 2026 will see a reduction in teams from seven to five. Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders remain, while Chattogram Royals, Rajshahi Warriors, and Sylhet Titans enter under new ownership after Chittagong Kings, Durbar Rajshahi, and Sylhet Strikers exited.

Defending champions Fortune Barishal and Khulna Tigers will not participate this season.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the participating teams but has yet to release details regarding the new ownership structures.

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Abrar Ahmed has been picked up by the newly rebranded Chattogram Royals, marking a return to the BPL for the Pakistan spinner, who played a solitary match for Comilla Victorians in the 2023 edition.

Saim Ayub, meanwhile, has joined Sylhet Titans, who have also signed England’s Moeen Ali, veteran pacer Mohammad Amir, and Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai.

Mohammad Amir, a veteran left-arm pacer, brings extensive experience, having taken 52 wickets in 36 BPL matches at an economy rate of 6.36 over four seasons.

Among other marquee pre-auction signings, Dhaka Capitals have secured England’s Alex Hales and Pakistan’s Usman Khan, while Noakhali Express have picked up Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis.

Usman Khan boasts an impressive BPL record, scoring 581 runs in 19 matches across two seasons at a strike rate of 148.97, including three fifties and two centuries.

READ: Australia announce squad for pink-ball Ashes Test

DUBAI: Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub has slipped from the top spot in the latest ICC T20I all-rounder rankings on Wednesday, following a string of underwhelming performances in the ongoing tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Ayub, whose primary role is with the bat, managed just 55 runs in three innings at an average of 18.33 and a strike rate of 105.76.

His contributions with the ball were equally limited, picking up only a single wicket from six overs. As a result, he has fallen to second place in the T20I all-rounder standings with 269 rating points.

The top spot is now held by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, who has impressed across both disciplines in the tri-series.

Raza has scored 141 runs in four innings at an average of 47.00 and a strike rate of 136.89, while also picking up three wickets at an average of 36.00.

Catch Pakistan Tri-Series news updates here!

His consistent performances have propelled him to 289 rating points, with West Indies’ Roston Chase occupying third place.

Notably, Raza is the second-highest run-scorer in the tri-series behind Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan.

Farhan has also made headlines in the latest ICC T20I rankings, climbing into the top five of the batting chart thanks to his stellar form.

The Pakistan opener has amassed 159 runs in three innings at an average of 79.50 and a strike rate of 157.42, including two half-centuries.

His performances have earned him 776 points, an eight-place jump to fourth in the global batting rankings.

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Babar Azam has also gained ground, moving five spots up to 29th with 572 points after scoring 90 runs at a strike rate of 116.88 in the tri-series.

Meanwhile, Saim Ayub managed to retain his 37th position with 538 points, while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, absent from the series, dropped five places to 46th with 514 points.

Among the bowlers, spinner Abrar Ahmed remains eighth with 659 points, while fellow spinner Mohammad Nawaz, the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tri-series with seven scalps, climbed 14 spots to 13th with 638 points.

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi slipped four places to 18th, Sufiyan Muqeem fell four spots to 27th, and Salman Mirza climbed five positions to 38th with 532 points.

READ: Sahibzada Farhan storms into top five of ICC T20I batting rankings

RAWALPINDI: Opening batter Saim Ayub became the ninth Pakistan player to score 1000 runs in T20Is during the T20I tri-series clash against Sri Lanka here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Saim came to the crease with 983 runs to his name in 50 innings and achieved the feat during the fifth over of Pakistan’s innings with a drive against Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka.

With this, he joined the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, and Shahid Afridi, hence becoming the ninth Pakistan batter to score 1000 runs in T20Is.

The 23-year-old, however, was stumped in Shanaka’s over after scoring 20 off 18 with the help of four boundaries.

Catch Pakistan Tri-Series news updates here

Nonetheless, Pakistan eased past Sri Lanka by seven wickets, courtesy of a complete all-round performance with the bat and ball.

Set only 129, Pakistan sealed victory on the third ball of the 15th over, losing just three wickets in the process.

Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub were off to a flyer, adding 47 in only five overs. Farhan remained the core aggressor while Saim milked the scoring with singles.

The partnership was broken with Saim’s wicket, who made 20 off 18 with the aid of four boundaries.

Meanwhile, Farhan continued to charge and stitched another 69-run partnership with Babar Azam, who played second fiddle in the stand.

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Eventually, Green Shirts reached the target without major hiccups, with Sri Lanka taking two more wickets in the shape of Babar Azam (16) and Salman Ali Agha for a golden duck.

Farhan top-scored with 80 off just 45 deliveries, studded with five sixes and half a dozen fours.

For Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera picked up two wickets.

The fourth match of the T20I tri-series will be played tomorrow at the same venue between Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

READ: Agha hails Pakistan’s ‘complete performance’ after Sri Lanka win

DUBAI: Pakistan batters Babar Azam and Saim Ayub have made impressive gains in the latest ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, following their standout performances in a 2-1 series triumph over South Africa.

The weekly update, released on Wednesday, saw both batters climb significantly in the rankings.

Babar Azam, who played a crucial match-winning knock in the third T20I, jumped nine places to 30th with 563 points.

Saim Ayub, on the other hand, surged ten spots to 39th after his blistering unbeaten 71 in the second match that helped Pakistan level the series.

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Opener Sahibzada Farhan held firm at 11th place, while captain Salman Ali Agha climbed 10 spots to 54th.

However, Fakhar Zaman slipped four places to 63rd, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who did not feature in the series, dropped two positions to 42nd.

India’s Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the T20I batting charts, with England’s Phil Salt and India’s Tilak Varma rounding out the top three.

In the bowlers’ rankings, Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed maintained his stronghold at eighth, while Shaheen Afridi rose three places to 13th after consistent performances with the new ball.

Pacer Salman Mirza emerged as one of the biggest movers, leaping 98 places to 45th following his fiery spell in the second T20I. Faheem Ashraf also made significant progress, climbing 50 spots to 51st.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

Among others, spinner Mohammad Nawaz edged up to 32nd, Sufiyan Muqeem fell to 23rd, and Haris Rauf slipped three places to 37th.

The all-rounders’ table saw mixed fortunes for Pakistan players.

Mohammad Nawaz dropped four spots to 10th, while Faheem Ashraf jumped eight places to 30th. Shaheen Afridi fell to 56th, but Salman Ali Agha continued his upward momentum, moving to 63rd.

Saim Ayub retained his position as the world’s No.1 T20I all-rounder, ahead of Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza and West Indies’ Roston Chase, who moved to second and third respectively.

READ: Veteran Pakistan spinner hints at retirement from cricket

Pakistan Test cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has urged opening batter Saim Ayub to ‘learn the art of batting’ following his horror run with the bat in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025.

Saim Ayub had endured a poor run with the bat in the continental tournament. The southpaw bagged overall four ducks, including three in a row, and could only manage to score 37 runs in just seven innings.

On the contrary, he had an impressive outing with the ball as he picked up eight wickets in six innings at an economy of 6.40 per over. Following his bowling contributions, he became the No.1 all-rounder in ICC T20I rankings.

Appearing in a recent podcast, Ahmed Shehzad reflected on his past comments about the left-hander, recalling that once he warned Saim could prove dangerous for Pakistan.

“Yes is proving to be dangerous,” he said in a light-hearted manner given his current struggles.

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Ahmed Shehzad nevertheless praised the left-hander’s talent and called him a ‘blessing’ for Pakistan. He also mentioned Saim’s time with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators.

“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,” he continued.

The 33-year-old pointed out systematic flaws and the scarcity of batting talent in the country, alongside mentioning his performance and the number of matches he had played.

“In a country where there aren’t many players, when you find someone like this, you have to support him.

He has already been given 50 chances — that’s the length of some players’ entire careers. He has been handed 50 chances despite failures,” he added.

Shehzad also emphasized his bowling and suggested that he needs to play domestic cricket to regain his form rather than being discarded altogether.

“His bowling can be useful against sides like Oman or UAE, but against stronger teams, it hasn’t worked. India, for example, took him apart.”

“Saim has to learn the art of scoring runs. He should go back to domestic cricket, play ‘A’ tours. There is no need to discard him completely,” he concluded.

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DUBAI: Pakistan top-order batter Saim Ayub has dethroned India’s Hardik Pandya to become the No. 1 all-rounder in the latest ICC T20I rankings, announced on Wednesday.

The southpaw who had a horror run with the bat in the recently concluded Asia Cup climbed the ladder after an impressive showing with the ball.

Saim only managed to score 37 runs in seven innings with four ducks to his name. On the contrary, he stood up with the ball when Pakistan needed him the most, picking up eight scalps in the same number of matches.

The 23-year-old climbed four spots to reach the summit position and now has 241 rating points, whereas Hardik Pandya, who missed the Asia Cup final due to fitness concerns, is now in second position with 233 points.

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In batting, India’s Abhishek Sharma is in the top spot and now has the all-time highest ranking points. The southpaw who was named as the player of the tournament for his stellar run in the continental tournament has 931 rating points.

He has surpassed England’s David Malan, who achieved the best rating of 919 in 2020.

Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan has made massive strides and jumped 11 places to secure the 13th spot. The 29-year-old notched up two half-centuries against India and remained crucial in helping his team in reaching the final.

In the bowlers’ ranking, fast bowler Shaheen Afridi moved 12 spots to 13th place, while Faheem Ashraf has made a significant leap, moving up 26 places to 93rd position with 418 points.

India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy continues to hold the No.1 spot with 803 points.

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DUBAI: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha has thrown his weight behind out-of-form batter Saim Ayub ahead of the blockbuster ACC Asia Cup 2025 final against India, set to be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Ayub has endured a torrid run with the bat in the tournament, scoring just 23 runs in six innings at a poor average of 3.83 and a strike rate of 85.18, including four ducks.

However, the left-hander has made up for his struggles with the bat by delivering handy contributions with the ball, taking eight wickets in five innings at an impressive average of 14.00.

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Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Salman Ali Agha acknowledged the scrutiny on Ayub’s place in the XI but insisted that the youngster deserves backing, given his all-round value and long-term potential.

“I think Saim Ayub is such a player who can serve Pakistan for the next 10 years, and I am really hoping that he does,” Agha said.

“So, it is essential to back such individuals until a situation arises where it becomes absolutely necessary to make a change.”

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

Highlighting Ayub’s consistent efforts in the field and with the ball, the captain underlined his faith in the 24-year-old to come good with the bat when it matters most.

“You have seen his bowling and fielding, he is contributing in every game. There has not been a single match where he has not contributed,” he added.

“Yes, he could not perform with the bat, but I am fully confident that he will play one good innings in the final.”

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DUBAI: Left-handed batter Saim Ayub on Thursday surpassed former captain Shahid Afridi’s record with a duck during the Pakistan-Bangladesh clash in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash.

Saim’s poor run with the bat continued as he was removed on the fourth delivery of the second over, caught by Rishad Hossain at mid-on after hitting a flighted delivery from Mahedi Hasan.

The 24-year-old has so far had a horror run with the bat. Previously, he recorded duck in the Green Shirts group stage fixtures against Oman, arch-rivals India, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Notably, this duck was his fourth in the Asia Cup 2025 and the eighth overall in T20 internationals, surpassing former captain and star all-rounder Shahid Afridi for the most ducks by a Pakistani batsman in this format.

The record is still held by out-of-favor middle-order batter Umar Akmal.

Meanwhile, star players Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, and Kamran Akmal are tied for fourth place on this undesirable list, each having seven ducks.

Most ducks for Pakistan in T20Is

Umar Akmal – 10 ducks in 84 matches
Saim Ayub – 8 ducks in 47 matches
Shahid Afridi – 8 ducks in 98 matches
Kamran Akmal – 7 ducks in 58 matches
Mohammad Hafeez – 7 ducks in 119 matches
Babar Azam – 7 ducks in 128 matches

Notably, earlier in the tournament, Saim Ayub also became the 62nd batter in men’s T20Is to bag three consecutive ducks, featuring compatriots Mohammad Hafeez and Abdullah Shafique.

Abdullah is at the top of the unwanted list with four consecutive ducks in the shortest format.

Moreover, he is now at the top of the list of most ducks in the T20Is tournament in full member nations.

Most ducks in a Men’s T20I tournament for Full Member nations

4 – Saim Ayub, Asia Cup 2025

3 – Mashrafe Mortaza, Asia Cup 2016

3 – Andre Fletcher, T20 World Cup 2009

3 – Hasan Nawaz, v NZ 2024/25

3 – Tanzid Hasan, T20 World Cup 2024

3 – Regis Chakabva, T20 World Cup 2022

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DUBAI: Pakistan opener Saim Ayub endured yet another nightmare outing at the Asia Cup 2025, falling for a two-ball duck against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The 24-year-old left-hander, who had already registered golden ducks against Oman and India earlier in the tournament, was dismissed in identical fashion to his previous failures.

Facing Junaid Siddique in the opening over, Ayub attempted to cut a short and wide delivery but could only find Muhammad Rohid at deep third, leaving Pakistan rocked early in their must-win clash.

This dismissal carried a grim milestone. It marked Ayub’s eighth duck in T20 internationals, placing him level with former captain and iconic all-rounder Shahid Afridi on Pakistan’s all-time list of most ducks in the format.

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Umar Akmal tops the chart with 10, while Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, and Kamran Akmal are tied on seven.

Most T20I Ducks for Pakistan:

• Umar Akmal – 10 in 84 matches
• Shahid Afridi – 8 in 98 matches
• Saim Ayub – 8 in 44 matches
• Kamran Akmal – 7 in 58 matches
• Mohammad Hafeez – 7 in 119 matches
• Babar Azam – 7 in 128 matches

Adding to the unwanted tally, Ayub also became the 62nd batter in men’s T20I history to record three consecutive ducks.

He joins compatriots Mohammad Hafeez and Abdullah Shafique in this category, with Abdullah holding the dubious record of four in a row.

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