Key Takeaways
- Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been released from the national squad.
- Sahibzada Farhan has been named as Ayub’s replacement for the remainder of the tournament.
- The decision was made after Ayub requested to return to domestic cricket to regain confidence.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released opener Saim Ayub from the national squad for the remainder of the ongoing One-day International (ODI) tri-series. The decision was made after Ayub requested to return to domestic cricket to work on his batting form and regain confidence.
The PCB stated that the team management and national selection committee agreed to Ayub’s request, respecting his honest assessment of his current form. Ayub’s early departure was part of a top-order collapse that left Pakistan struggling before Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 113 and an unbroken last-wicket partnership with Haris Rauf secured a dramatic one-wicket victory over England at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Concerns over Ayub’s form had also been raised ahead of the match, with Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledging the selection options available to the team amid inconsistent returns from the opening batters.
Right-handed opener Sahibzada Farhan has been named as Ayub’s replacement for the remainder of the tournament. Farhan returns to the ODI set-up after being left out of Pakistan’s original squad for the tri-series. He had been named captain of the national T20I side for the series against Sri Lanka earlier this month and led Pakistan at the Asian Games.
The latest change follows the inclusion of left-handed batter Maaz Sadaqat in the squad a day earlier. Maaz was added as cover for players carrying minor niggles after left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Moqim was released from the squad, with the PCB citing the nature of the Lahore pitches. Maaz, 21, had initially been left out of the tri-series squad.
Farhan’s return to the ODI set-up comes after he had been left out of Pakistan’s original squad for the tri-series. The ongoing tri-series, featuring Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka, is part of the teams’ preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup.
Pakistan have already qualified for the tri-series final after registering three consecutive victories. They will face Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the competition at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, with the final scheduled for Oct 31 at the same venue.
The PCB statement did not specify how long Ayub would spend playing domestic cricket or provide details of any future selection plans.
