Pakistan opener Saim Ayub had another disappointing outing as he was dismissed for zero against the UAE, equaling a record held by former all-rounder Shahid Afridi. The unwanted milestone has now placed Saim among the top names in the list of Pakistani cricketers with the most ducks in T20 International cricket.
A Third Consecutive Duck for Saim Ayub
The left-handed opener’s struggles continued in Dubai, where he was dismissed for a duck for the third match in a row. Facing just five deliveries, Saim was caught by Junaid Siddique without troubling the scorers.
This was the eighth time in his T20I career that Saim Ayub failed to score a run, despite having played only 44 innings so far.
Matching Shahid Afridi’s Unwanted Record
With this dismissal, Saim joined former captain Shahid Afridi on the list of Pakistan players with the most ducks in T20Is. Afridi, who played 98 T20Is, was dismissed for zero eight times in his career.
The comparison highlights the inconsistency in Saim’s performances. Unlike Afridi, who was known for his aggressive batting and long career, Saim has reached this mark in a much shorter span, raising concerns about his form at the top of the order.
Umar Akmal Leads the Chart
While Saim and Afridi share second place, the top spot belongs to Umar Akmal, who registered 10 ducks in 84 matches. Akmal’s tendency to lose his wicket early earned him the record, which still stands today.
Other notable names on the list include:
- Kamran Akmal – 7 ducks in 58 matches
- Mohammad Hafeez – 7 ducks in 119 matches
- Babar Azam – 7 ducks in 104 matches
What It Means for Saim Ayub
Saim Ayub is widely regarded as a promising young talent for Pakistan’s T20 setup. However, his repeated failures at the top of the order will likely put pressure on both the player and the selectors. Consistency remains the biggest challenge for the left-hander, who has the shots and talent but has struggled to convert starts into meaningful contributions.
As Pakistan prepares for the next phase of the Asia Cup, all eyes will be on Saim to see if he can bounce back and silence his critics.
