Pakistan cricket player Saim Ayub’s batting struggles continued as he registered his fourth duck in five innings during Thursday’s Asia Cup Super Four match against Bangladesh, leading former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis to call for his removal from the playing XI. The 23-year-old all-rounder, who has only managed to score 21 runs against India in the tournament, has however picked up six wickets with his bowling performances. Ayub’s latest dismissal came while attempting to hit Mahedi Hasan’s full delivery over the in-field, resulting in a catch at mid-on after the ball hit the inner half of his bat. This continued his poor run of form with the bat in the tournament. Despite Ayub’s contributions with the ball, Waqar Younis expressed concerns about his batting form during his commentary on SonyLiv. The Pakistan cricket legend emphasized the need to protect young talent by occasionally removing them from the playing XI. “Look, I said it after the second duck, I said this guy needs to be benched. It’s not that he is not talented; he is very talented. I think he is the future of Pakistan cricket. But sometimes when things are not going right for you, you just keep going in the shell, keep going down and down, and that’s what is happening here with him. His body language was poor this afternoon when he walked onto the field,” Younis stated. Younis further elaborated on his stance regarding Ayub’s position in the team, highlighting the importance of focusing on his batting rather than his bowling abilities. “You know, he is a youngster, you really need to look after them sometimes, by just not playing them sometimes. Pakistan kept on playing him, just purely because he can bowl. You don’t need to worry about his bowling; Pakistan needs to worry about his batting. If he is going to give us runs or not. At the moment, it’s not happening. He needs to dig deeper in his game to score a few runs,” Younis added. The young all-rounder’s only successful batting performance in the tournament came against India in the Super Four stage, where he scored 21 runs from 17 balls. This remains his sole contribution with the bat across his five innings in the 2025 Asia Cup. Ayub’s bowling performances have been a bright spot for Pakistan, with six wickets to his name before the Bangladesh fixture. However, his batting struggles have overshadowed his bowling contributions. The discussion around Ayub’s position in the team highlights the broader challenge of managing young talent in international cricket, particularly when players face extended periods of poor form in one aspect of their game while performing well in another. The situation presents a dilemma for the Pakistan team management, who must balance the development of a young talent considered to be the future of Pakistan cricket with the immediate needs of the team in an important tournament like the Asia Cup. Ayub’s recent dismissals and body language on the field have raised concerns about his confidence levels, which Younis suggests could be addressed by temporarily removing him from the playing XI to help him regain his batting form. The ongoing debate about Ayub’s place in the team reflects the challenges of international cricket, where players must maintain consistent performances across all aspects of their game to justify their selection in the playing XI.
