Waqar Younis advises dropping Saim Ayub from national team

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top-order batter Saim Ayub has come under fire from former skipper Waqar Younis, who has advised that the youngster be dropped from the playing XI during the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

Waqar said Saim’s continued batting failures in the tournament have severely dented his confidence, despite being one of Pakistan’s most promising young talents.

“When he got out for a second duck, I had said right then that he should be rested for a while. Saim has a potential, but when the runs don’t come, the pressure builds, and that’s all exactly what we’re seeing now,” Waqar added.

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Commenting on Saim’s on-field body language, the former fast bowler added, “He looks under pressure even before facing the first ball which is a clear indication that he is mentally struggling.”

Despite his struggles with the bat, Saim impressed with the ball as the ICC has recently ranked him 5th among T20I all-rounders following his three-wicket haul in Pakistan’s match against India. However, Waqar believes this should not overshadow his main role in the team. “Saim has been picked as a specialist batter, and that’s where the real concern lies,” he said.

Saim has featured in six innings so far in Asia Cup 2025, scoring only 23 runs (21 of which came in a single match). He has been dismissed for a duck four times and managed just two runs in the remaining innings.

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While Pakistan made a major change during the tournament by replacing Hasan Nawaz with all-rounder Hussain Talat, it seems unlikely that Saim will be dropped ahead of the tournament final. However, a decision to rest him in the future cannot be ruled out, especially if his batting form does not improve.