As the T20 World Cup 2024 draws near, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has shared his thoughts on the team’s opening batsmen, expressing concerns about Saim Ayub’s inconsistent performances with the bat. While Afridi has confidence in Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s abilities, he believes Ayub’s struggle to score runs regularly is a problem.
Despite being recognized for his talent, Ayub has yet to make a significant impact in T20 internationals, having played 15 innings without scoring a fifty. Afridi stressed the need for Ayub to take more responsibility during matches and contribute crucial runs in at least two out of every five innings.
Given Ayub’s struggles, Afridi suggested that Pakistan may explore giving Fakhar Zaman an opportunity as an opener during the upcoming World Cup. Ayub’s T20I statistics, with 219 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 125.86 and an average of 14.60, highlight the need for improvement.
Currently, Pakistan is focused on the T20I series against Ireland and England, playing three matches against Ireland and four against England this month. These series serve as vital preparation for the Men in Green before they head to the United States to compete in the T20 World Cup.
