Pakistan Cricket Team’s abysmal performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy was largely attributed to Saim Ayub, who missed his first major ICC tournament on home soil with a fractured ankle. The 2025 Asia Cup was expected to be his redemption arc, especially as the face of Mike Hesson’s white-ball revolution, which aimed to usher in a new era for the team.
Reality, however, has fallen short of expectations. Saim Ayub registered his second successive duck in the tournament last night during Pakistan’s seven-wicket loss to arch-rivals India.
The 23-year-old, after being dismissed on the very first ball against Oman, spooned a simple catch to Jasprit Bumrah on the game’s first legal delivery once again. This means that in just two legal deliveries during the Asia Cup, Saim Ayub has been dismissed twice without scoring a single run.
After bagging his third duck in five games, Saim now finds himself on an unfortunate list that belies his talent. With seven zero scores to his name, he is now tied for the third-most ducks in T20I history for Pakistan.
With just 43 T20I appearances, Saim Ayub has already equalled the tally of senior players like Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, and former captain Babar Azam, all of whom played significantly more matches before reaching that number.
The list is headed by Umar Akmal, followed by Shahid Afridi.
Most T20I Ducks for Pakistan:
| Player | Matches | Ducks |
|---|---|---|
| Umar Akmal | 84 | 10 |
| Shahid Afridi | 98 | 8 |
| Saim Ayub | 43 | 7 |
| Kamran Akmal | 58 | 7 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 119 | 7 |
| Babar Azam | 128 | 7 |
Saim Ayub’s saving grace at the Asia Cup has surprisingly been his bowling. Entrusted to share the new ball with Shaheen Afridi, Saim currently sits second on the wicket-takers list with five scalps to his name. However, with his bat not firing, Pakistan has reason to be concerned.
The left-hander will have the opportunity to make his mark in the tournament when Pakistan faces UAE in their final Group A match. A strong showing could shift both Pakistan’s and his own fortunes in the competition.
With the T20 World Cup cycle underway, management will be hoping Saim Ayub learns quickly from his struggles and begins delivering the kind of starts his reputation promises.
