FAISALABAD: Pakistan’s batting prodigy Saim Ayub, coped with a disappointing dismissal while playing a no-look shot in the Champions One-Day Cup, underway here at Iqbal Stadium.
Saim, representing the Panthers in the Champions Cup, is yet to make a mark in the ongoing five-team tournament.
The incident occurred in the third over of the Panthers’ innings against the Dolphins when Saim Ayub attempted to punch his trademark no-look shot against left-arm pacer Mir Hamza.
Hamza bowled a length delivery, angling towards the leg stump but moved away after pitching. Ayub went early into the no-look shot and ended up launching the ball in the air.
The ball after taking the leading edge, went straight to Mohammad Huraira at mid-off, who made no mistake in gulping it safely.
The left-handed could score a mere six off 12 deliveries, hitting only one boundary in his scratchy knock.
Remember, it was the second failure for Ayub in as many matches of the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup. In the tournament opener against Markhors, he scored a 15-ball 20.
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Saim Ayub is often criticised for his inability to convert a good start into a big knock. The most recent example was when he threw his wicket in the first innings of the second Test against Bangladesh after scoring a gutsy half-century.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Kamran Akmal lambasted Ayub over the casual dismissal, stating he would not have let the latter come near the team.
“Honestly, if I were in charge, I swear I wouldn’t let Saim come near the team for the next two years after getting out like he did in the first innings of the second Test,” Akmal said during an interview with local sports website.
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