Wisden has announced its Team of the Asia Cup, but one selection has raised eyebrows. Despite struggling with the bat throughout the tournament, Pakistan’s Saim Ayub has found a place in the XI.
Saim scored only 37 runs at an average of 5.28, including four ducks in seven innings. Most of his runs (35 out of 37) came against India in the Super Four and the final. For many, his inclusion seems puzzling given his lack of batting impact.
Wisden’s Justification
According to Wisden, Saim Ayub’s selection might be one of the most debated choices of this XI. The cricket outlet itself admitted that “serious questions” could be raised about whether a player who failed to contribute significantly with the bat deserves a place.
However, Wisden emphasized that Saim’s bowling made the difference. His left-arm spin proved to be an asset for Pakistan, as he not only slowed down the opposition’s scoring rate but also took key wickets, including those of Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma.
Wisden described him as the team’s third spinner, stating that his runs were a “bonus,” while his bowling provided real value.
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Other Pakistan Representation
Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi also earned a place in the team. His inclusion came as no surprise, given his consistent wicket-taking ability and experience in big matches.
The Full XI Selected by Wisden
The team features a blend of stars from across South Asia:
- Abhishek Sharma (India) – Opener
- Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) – Opener
- Saim Ayub (Pakistan) – No. 3
- Tilak Varma (India)
- Sanju Samson (India)
- Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)
- Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka)
- Axar Patel (India)
- Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
- Kuldeep Yadav (India)
- Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)
Analysis: Balancing Batting Failures With Bowling Impact
Saim Ayub’s inclusion underlines an important point about modern cricket: players are increasingly judged on their all-round contribution rather than just batting or bowling alone. While his batting collapse was hard to ignore, his ability to provide crucial breakthroughs and apply pressure on opponents gave him the edge over other contenders.
Still, his selection will likely remain a talking point among fans and analysts, as many believe rewarding a batter who consistently failed with the bat sets a tricky precedent.