Legend Waqar Younis wantsPakistan to drop all-rounder Saim Ayub from the playing XI against Team India, in the Asia Cup 2025 final to be played in Dubai on September 28. Ayub has looked completely out of rhythm. In the ongoing continental tournament, Ayub looked ordinary with his bat as he could score only 23 runs in six matches at an egregious average of 3.82. In the six matches, the left-handed batter has amassed four ducks. In the do-or-die match against Bangladesh on September 25, he was expected to stand in the middle after the early dismissal of opener Sahibzada Farhan.
However, he became the victim of Mahedi Hasan, who got him caught at the hands of Rishad Hossain in the second over of the game. The 23-year-old departed on a three-ball
duck. Following Saim Ayub’s consistent struggle as a batter, Waqar feels the southpaw needs a break. “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,” said Younis on SonyLiv.
Pakistan’s performance after the thumping defeat against India on September 21
After the six-wicket hammering against India on September 21, Pakistan’s batting attack has looked ordinary but their bowling unit has done a commendable job. Against Sri Lanka on September 23, the Green Army’s bowlers bundled out the six-time Asia Cup champions for 133/8 and played an instrumental role in the five-wicket win.
Similarly, in their next match, Pakistan contained the Bangla team on 124/9 while defending only 135 runs. In both matches, Pakistan’s mainstay pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf looked disciplined with the ball to help the Men in Green reach the final.
