Saim Ayub has stirred passionate debates amongst both cricket fans, as well as pundits in Pakistan. Is he a talented young opener having a tough time with form, or a special spinner who may transform the game.
Saim Ayub’s Bowling: A Powerplay Specialist
Saim Ayub hasn’t been in the news for his batting lately, and now he is considered a significant bowler, an alternate bowler mainly in powerplay. His specialty in bowling the mystery and carrom deliveries is paying off.
During the current Asia Cup, Ayub has picked up five wickets within the first six overs of a match, with an economy rate of 5.60 during powerplay. To put things into perspective, this is better than the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, whose economy rate in the same stage stands at 5.83.
What distinguishes Ayub in the powerplay is not merely that he can bowl economically but also his ability to make vital breakthroughs early in the match. His bowling in the first few overs has turned out to be one of the most fruitful, as testified by his recent performances in the ongoing Asia Cup, where just two other bowlers have taken more wickets than him within the first six overs.
Saim Ayub’s Batting: A Case of Unfulfilled Potential?
Even with praise for his bowling, Saim Ayub is great it comes to batting. The aggressive, left-handed opener joined Pakistan in 2023 and grabbed attention with his batting style.
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In early 2024, during a headline T20I at Eden Park, Ayub made a 27 off 8-balls innings during which he used his famous no-look scoop shot. Ayub’s attacking style in 44 T20I games has produced only two innings in which he’s scored over his Eden Park debut knock. His Eden Park innings still represents 16% of his career runs in T20I cricket.
Though he started with much promise, Saim Ayub has consistently underperformed when put on the spot. He has been given out in the first over of a match eight times in 29 innings. Even when Ayub has played outside the first five overs, his performances have not been impressive, including two ducks in his small sample size in such a scenario.
Career of Saim Ayub: A Roller Coaster of Highs and Lows
Ayub’s career has been one of stochastic highs with short peaks and long lows. Though he has been able to register four half-centuries in T20Is, inconsistency has been a worry. Indeed, his last 11 innings have witnessed four ducks. Yet, despite all these form dips, his raw talent and the expectation that he might deliver on a big day continue to keep Pakistan selectors with him.
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The rationale behind investing in Ayub is that one day he will come good and win a match for Pakistan, similar to how Shahid Afridi became a legend having failed more times than he succeeded.
Ayub’s early career statistics are quite similar to Afridi, with identical career averages and the number of T20I points (eight). Like Afridi, he is also labelled as a bowling all-rounder as most of his contributions in the 2024 Asia Cup were with the ball.
The Role of Saim Ayub in Pakistan’s T20I Setup
Though Saim Ayub’s batting can be unpredictable, his utility as a bowler for Pakistan in the T20I team is beyond doubt. In a recent encounter against India, Ayub played a key role in dismissing all three Indian wickets that came their way, getting both Shubman Gill and Tilak Verma out with his spin. His knack of causing turnovers during the powerplay has established him as a key player for Pakistan, particularly during the initial overs.
Saim Ayub’s ball play, especially during the powerplay, has made him a go-to option for Pakistan captain Salman Agha. Whether it is defending or chasing, Ayub has emerged as the kind of player the team can bank on to get that early breakthrough in the game.
Saim Ayub vs Shahid Afridi: A Comparative Analysis
Comparisons with Saim Ayub and Shahid Afridi have already been initiated. Afridi, like Ayub, was criticized often for inconsistency with bat in hand, but could deliver at key moments in a match to create game-changing plays.
The early parts of Afridi’s career are very similar to those of Ayub’s. Both players have many ducks and half-centuries in T20Is. Like Afridi, Ayub has shown to be bowler too who can offer something positive at the start of an innings outside of batting.
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Pakistani cricket followers, who are usually nostalgic for Saeed Anwar’s leaving, have placed a ton of expectations on Ayub becoming the new T20I savior. As maddening as it is that he may not always seem reliable, his batting and bowling talents give fans hope for things to get better.
Saim Ayub’s Uncertain Future
To conclude, Saim Ayub is still an enigmatic figure within Pakistan’s T20I lineup. His bowling has worked well, especially in the powerplay, but his batting remains frustrating to selectors and supporters alike.
Like Shahid Afridi before him, Ayub’s career can be best remembered for flashes of brilliance that overshadow his many failures. For the time being, Pakistan’s selectors and supporters remain optimistic that Ayub’s untapped talent will eventually see the light of day and turn him into a game-changer for international tournaments to come.
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