Saim Ayub records second worst batting average in International T-20 tournaments.
Saim Ayub’s tournament average of 5.28 is not just poor. It is a red flag for selection and for his own development.
He looked rushed at the crease and played across the line too early. Bowlers swung the new ball and he offered loose drives with a hard bottom hand.
That combination produced edges and miscues rather than value through the covers.
His powerplay method needs clarity. Either he commits to strike rotation or he picks clear boundary options.
Right now he sits in between and gifts momentum. His trigger movement is late, his head falls over, and his bat face closes.
As a result, he struggles to ride bounce and to handle the ball that nips back.
The fix requires humility and repetition. He must groove a tighter off stump leave, work on high elbow punches, and practice the late glide behind point.
He also needs a simple plan for the first ten balls. If he does that, the talent will show again.
If not, Pakistan should give the slot to a batter with a stable base and a clear tempo.
Ayub’s Bizarre Asia cup: ducks and wickets
However, Ayub’s unusual story doesn’t end there.
In a remarkable twist, the young opener has been a surprise star with the ball.
His right-arm off-spin has been highly effective, and he’s taken a total of six wickets in three games.
This includes figures of 2/8 against Oman, 3/35 against India, and 1/18 against the UAE.
Ayub’s ability to take crucial wickets has been a key factor in Pakistan’s success, and his contributions with the ball have likely saved his place in the team despite his batting struggles.
Saim Ayub equals Shahid Afridi’s unwanted T20i record
Dismissed for golden ducks against Oman and India, followed by a two-ball duck versus UAE, Ayub notched three consecutive zeros.
Equaling Mohammad Hafeez’s unwanted T20I streak and becoming only the second Pakistani after Abdullah Shafique to achieve this in the tournament.
This marked his eighth T20I duck in 44 innings, tying Shahid Afridi’s tally (from 90 innings) for second-most by a Pakistan batter, behind Umar Akmal’s 10 (79 innings).
Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, and Kamran Akmal share seven each.
Ayub’s five ducks in 2025 alone match Sanju Samson’s record, underscoring T20 opening’s volatility.
Former captain Rashid Latif defended him: “Ya toh phoot jaega ya phod dega” (He’ll either break or explode). With Pakistan in Super Fours, Ayub’s intent must yield boundaries, not exits, ahead of the 2025 T20 World Cup.
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