(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Saim Ayub’s Struggles Continue in Asia Cup 2025 After Successive Ducks
The Pakistan cricket team’s disappointing performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy was widely linked to the absence of young opener Saim Ayub, who missed the tournament on home soil due to a fractured ankle. Hopes were high that the Asia Cup 2025 would mark his comeback, especially as a central figure in Mike Hesson’s white-ball strategy aimed at revamping Pakistan’s limited-overs cricket.
However, reality has been far from ideal. In Pakistan’s recent seven-wicket defeat to India, Saim Ayub recorded his second consecutive duck in the tournament. After being dismissed on the first ball against Oman, he once again handed a simple catch to Jasprit Bumrah on the very first legal delivery of the game.
This means that in just two legal deliveries of the Asia Cup, the left-hander has been dismissed twice without scoring a run.
Unwanted Record for Saim Ayub
With seven career ducks in T20Is, Saim Ayub now finds himself tied for the third-most ducks for Pakistan in the format. What makes the statistic more alarming is that he has reached this number in just 43 appearances, compared to senior players who played far more matches before reaching similar figures.
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 |
Bowling Form Offers Hope
While his batting struggles dominate headlines, Saim Ayub has impressed with the ball. Tasked with sharing the new ball alongside Shaheen Afridi, he has already claimed five wickets, placing him second among the tournament’s top wicket-takers.
Despite his bowling contributions, Pakistan’s management will be hoping for a turnaround with the bat. The left-hander still has an opportunity to make an impact when Pakistan faces UAE in their final Group A clash. A strong performance could revive not only Pakistan’s campaign but also Saim’s confidence heading into the next phase of the competition.
Looking Ahead
With the T20 World Cup cycle underway, expectations remain high that Saim Ayub will overcome his current slump and begin delivering the explosive starts that made him one of Pakistan’s most promising batting talents.
