Former Chief Selector Backs Saim Ayub as Pakistan’s T20I Opener

Former Pakistan chief selector Azhar Khan has thrown his support behind young batter Saim Ayub as the ideal choice for opening in the T20I format, praising his adaptability and skill set in the shortest form of the game. Speaking on a local TV program, Khan highlighted Ayub’s strengths, particularly his ability to excel during the powerplay.

“Saim Ayub knows how to express himself with the bat, especially in the powerplay,” Khan said. “He is adept at negotiating short-pitched deliveries and plays exceptionally well through the off-side.”

Khan also addressed concerns regarding the national team’s selection policies, pointing out a lack of decisiveness in forming a solid batting core.

“There needs to be clarity in selection decisions,” he emphasized. “You often nullify your own strategies. It’s crucial to be precise, clear-minded, and have a well-defined top four in your batting order.”

Saim Ayub has already established himself as an avid opener on the national side but has to revert to the one-down role when Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are also included in the playing XI.

When asked to open the batting for his side, the left-hander owns a decent batting record. On 18 occasions, Saim has scored 457 runs across all three formats for Pakistan but crucially, his runs have come at a brisk strike rate of 122.2. He was instrumental in putting Pakistan’s chase against South Africa on track in the first T20I but his dismissal turned the game around for the hosts.