- Sahibzada Farhan has been named as his replacement. Pakistan opener Saim Ayub leaves the ODI tri-series to restore his batting form in domestic cricket. Sahibzada Farhan will be his successor.
- Saim Ayub (Source: ) Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been released from the squad for the remainder of the ongoing ODI tri-series, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Monday (October 26).
- Ayub requested a break from the team to return to domestic cricket and work on his batting form and the PCB confirmed that the team management and national selection committee had proved the request after a discussion with head coach Mike Hesson.
Sahibzada Farhan has been named as his replacement. Pakistan opener Saim Ayub leaves the ODI tri-series to restore his batting form in domestic cricket. Sahibzada Farhan will be his successor.
Saim Ayub (Source: ) Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been released from the squad for the remainder of the ongoing ODI tri-series, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Monday (October 26). Ayub requested a break from the team to return to domestic cricket and work on his batting form and the PCB confirmed that the team management and national selection committee had proved the request after a discussion with head coach Mike Hesson. Batsman Sahibzada Farhan has been roped in to fill the vacancy for the rest of the tournament.
Farhan was not part of Pakistan’s original three-series squad but returns to the ODI squad after being left out. “The team management and the national selection committee respect Saim’s decision and take into account his honest assessment of his current form and have mutually agreed to accept this request,” a PCB press release quoted by Dawn said. Ayub’s exit follows a difficult period in the tri-series.
He was dismissed for six runs in Pakistan’s one-wicket win over England at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, contributing to a first-class game that left the team in serious trouble. Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 113, combined with an unbroken last wicket stand alongside Haris Rauf, ultimately led Pakistan to victory. Ahead of this match, Pakistan ctain Shaheen Shah Afridi had also acknowledged the choices available to the team given the inconsistent results from the top of the order.
Why did the Pakistan team go through several changes in the three series? Ayub’s release is the second notable squad adjustment Pakistan has made in quick succession. A day before Monday’s announcement, left-hander Maaz Sadaqat was added to the group to cover players with minor physical problems.
The addition came after left-handed spinner Sufiyan Moqim was released, with the PCB pointing to the nature of the Lahore ground as the reason for his release. Sufiyan was ordered to return to domestic cricket. The 21-year-old Maaz was not in the original squad for all three series.
He is also an occasional left-arm orthodox spinner and is part of the team alongside Farhan for the rest of the competition. What does Sahibzada Farhan bring to the Pakistan ODI team? Farhan’s call-up to the ODI squad gives Pakistan an experienced edge at the top of the order.
He had already been named ctain of the national T20I team for the series against Sri Lanka earlier this month and also led Pakistan to the Asian Games, underlining his position in the white-ball structure despite his absence from the original three-man squad. Pakistan have already secured a place in the final of the three series after winning three matches in a row. They face Sri Lanka in the fifth league game at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday before the final takes place at the same venue on October 31.
The tri-series, which includes Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka, is part of the three teams’ preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup. The championship match against Sri Lanka will give the team the opportunity to evaluate their available combinations before the final.
