Pakistan’s Saim Ayub Creates Unwanted Record In Asia Cup, Becomes 2nd Worst To… | Cricket News

Pakistan top-order batter Saim Ayub’s horrible Asia Cup 2025 has been summarised in one stat. He averaged just 5.28 in the tournament, becoming the first Pakistani top-order batter and only the fifth ever to aggregate at under 10 in a men’s T20 series among full-member nations.

He’s the second-worst on the list, only behind Zimbabwe’s Regis Chakabva, who averaged only five in the 2022 T20 World Cup. The list is rounded up by New Zealand’s Will Young (7.60 in New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan, 2023, another Black Caps star Rachin Ravindra (9.40, New Zealand against Bangladesh in 2021), and Bangladesh’s Soumya Sarkar (9.60, 2016 T20 World Cup).

Ayub, 23, is considered one of the most promising players in the current Pakistani side, especially in white-ball cricket. On Sunday, he scored 14 (11) in the final of the Asia Cup against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. He looked good initially but couldn’t control a wide cut against Kuldeep Yadav, pushing it straight in the hands of the point fielder.

This was his second-highest score in the tournament, after starting seven games. Before this game, he was averaging only 3.83.

The left-hander started the tournament with two golden ducks, followed by a two-ball duck against the UAE. He top-scored against India when these sides met in the Super-Four stage, with a score of 21 (17), but followed it up again with 2 (3) against Sri Lanka and 0 (3) against Bangladesh.

Pakistan tried to change his batting position, too. He opened the innings in the first three games before being pushed to number three for the next four but nothing worked. He has saved himself some grace by being among the wickets. Before the final, he had eight wickets in five innings at a bowling average of 14.

If Pakistan lose the final, questions would be certainly raised on his place in the team but his bowling ability could help him weather the storm for now.