Time To Drop Saim Ayub From T20Is: Pakistan Has Key Reasons To Take This Bold Call

Why Saim Ayub should be dropped [Source: @umair6723/x.com]

Three matches, three failures define Saim Ayub's journey in the T20Is vs Bangladesh. The Pakistan opening batter came into the series with tons of hope, but the hopes faded away as he faltered in three matches in a row, as the visitors suffered an embarrassing series defeat against the Tigers.

Ayub looked out of touch, as he failed to deliver at the top, and couldn't score runs. Despite showing promise in his relatively young career, the southpaw has not done anything significant in T20Is, and if Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan could be dropped, so can Ayub. Here are 3 key reasons why Pakistan should decide to drop the out of form batter.

1) Poor run in Bangladesh series

• This has been a disastrous T20Is for the left-handed batter from Pakistan. He has looked scratchy, and has struggled to even time the ball, as Bangladesh have managed to dismiss him easily in three games running. His record in the 3-game series vs Bangladesh speaks about his poor run of form.

(Ayub in T20Is vs Bangladesh)

• Just 28 runs in three matches, with an average of 9.33 defines Saim Ayub's journey in the ongoing series. The numbers tell the entire story, and perhaps Pakistan need an overhaul at the top.

2) Average stats in T20Is

• Just a solitary fifty in 32 T20I matches as an opener, Saim Ayub has certainly failed to make a name for himself in the game's shortest format. The talented batter is still adapting to ODI, and Test cricket, but his days in the T20I team should come to an end, purely on the basis of his overall stats.

(Saim Ayub stats in overall T20Is)

• An average of just 19 after playing 32 games should be a breaking point for any selection committee. Pakistan boasts plethora of talent, and they should be given the opportunity from the next T20I series onwards. Ayub plays as an opener in T20Is, and barring his 98*, he is yet to truly win a match for Pakistan in this format.

3) Replacement already ready

• In Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan has a batter of immense quality, and in the last couple of games, the aggressive batter has showcased his quality at the top. In the 3rd T20I Vs Bangladesh, Sahibzada replaced Fakhar Zaman and smashed a whirlwind fifty. He also smacked a half-century against them in the T20Is, a couple of months ago. 
• In Fakhar, and Sahibzada, Pakistan have two openers who have already proven their worth, and with the T20 World Cup coming up next year, the duo should be the one opening for the Men in Green.
• Plus, the likes of Hassan Nawaz, and Mohammad Haris, can all bat at the opening slot, and could be ahead of Ayub in terms of pecking order.

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