![Saim Ayub flops [Source: @RayhamUnplugged/x.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1756482571479_saimayubflops.jpg?type=mq)
Saim Ayub flops [Source: @RayhamUnplugged/x.com]
Pakistan removed Babar Azam from the T20I side, citing his strike-rate issue, but his replacements have not done anything to justify their selection, as both the openers, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub failed to deliver the goods in the first T20I of the tri-series vs Afghanistan in Sharjah.
Rashid Khan ends Saim Ayub's pain-staking knock
On a wicket where spinners dominated, Pakistan elected to bat first, and Sahibzada Farhan gave a fiery start as he scored a quick-fire 21 off 10 before departing. The onus was then on Saim Ayub, and Fakhar Zaman to steady the ship, but Saim played a slow, and sluggish knock to hand over the momentum to Afghanistan.
Saim, known for his aggressive approach, struggled against the Afghanistan bowlers and looked sluggish as the Afghan spinners choked him with their brilliance. The batter was finding it hard to score runs when he decided to break the shackles, but his reckless shot landed safely in the hands of the fielder as Rashid Khan sent him packing.
He ended his innings with a strike rate of 87 in a T20I game, and it won't be an understatement to say that he gave a fitting tribute to Babar, who was snubbed from the team due to his strike rate.
Pakistan's faith in Saim Ayub backfires
For the last few years, it was Babar Azam who dominated the Pakistan batting and was their mainstay at the top. However, the PCB took away his T20I captaincy and then removed him from the squad, with coach Mike Hesson blaming his strike rate issue. In the last year, the Men in Green have tried Saim at the top, but he is yet to repay the reward, with only three fifty-plus scores in 36 matches as an opener.
While the strike rate in general is on the higher side, the batter is yet to win Pakistan an important T20I game.
