[VIDEOS] Will Babar Azam ruin Saim Ayub at Peshawar Zalmi?

[Rana]

I’m deeply concerned about this. Saim is IMO already a better T20 opener than Babar when it comes to intent, aerial stroke play, risk shots and aggression.

He has been picked by a franchise that practically will only play either him or Muhammad Harris as opener to bat with Babar, because we know Babar will not sacrifice his opening spot for anyone. Harris is already the ‘senior’ in this regard considering he has played clutch innings for Pakistan in the World Cup and he established himself as PZ’s opener last year

Babar destroyed the careers of Fakhar Zaman for Pakistan, Sharjeel Khan at KK and now Saim Ayub is potentially next in line to take a back seat to Babar’s obsession with opening by using his power as captain.

Discuss!

 

[Nasty Naz]

Peshawar doesn't seem like they have much batting and Haris was doing well at 3 role so it seems like they will or at least should open with Babar & Saim with Haris at 3.

 

[shamaan]

Peshawar doesn't seem like they have much batting and Haris was doing well at 3 role so it seems like they will or at least should open with Babar & Saim with Haris at 3.

They have Bhanuka Rajapaksa aswell and he's a top order batter thier is literally no chance for Saim to get into this team unless Raja bats at 4.

 

[shamaan]

I’m deeply concerned about this. Saim is IMO already a better T20 opener than Babar when it comes to intent, aerial stroke play, risk shots and aggression.

He has been picked by a franchise that practically will only play either him or Muhammad Harris as opener to bat with Babar, because we know Babar will not sacrifice his opening spot for anyone. Harris is already the ‘senior’ in this regard considering he has played clutch innings for Pakistan in the World Cup and he established himself as PZ’s opener last year

Babar destroyed the careers of Fakhar Zaman for Pakistan, Sharjeel Khan at KK and now Saim Ayub is potentially next in line to take a back seat to Babar’s obsession with opening by using his power as captain.

Discuss!

Thiers only 1 position between Haris and Saim.number 3,4,5 will go to the overseas number 6 will go to Danish Aziz,jamal will play at 7.

 

[Rana]

How is Saim Ayub a number 4???

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

How is Saim Ayub a number 4???

I generally despise most of your opinions. However, if Babar plays Saim at 4, or anywhere other than at opener, I’ll be incredibly disappointed in him. Babar has the squad at PZ to play himself at No.3. There’s no better place to try that than the PSL.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar only cares

 

[MenInG]

Saim Ayub should play where he is told to.

No one is born with his batting position number etched on his forehead.

Too much of this "I cant score if I play at number x" business going on.

Young player like him if he has talent should come in at number 11 and prove his worth.

 

[ChipShot]

Saim Ayub should play where he is told to.

No one is born with his batting position number etched on his forehead.

Too much of this "I cant score if I play at number x" business going on.

Young player like him if he has talent should come in at number 11 and prove his worth.

You need players who are willing to take risks and take advantage of Powerplay batting at the top. Accumulators can always come one or two down.

Batting positions are defined by abilities/roles of each player, not by birth or likings.

Saim and Haris should open at all times in the PSL, and also for Pakistan if Fakhar and Sharjeel are not available

 

[MenInG]

You need players who are willing to take risks and take advantage of Powerplay batting at the top. Accumulators can always come one or two down.

Batting positions are defined by abilities/roles of each player, not by birth or likings.

Saim and Haris should open at all times in the PSL, and also for Pakistan if Fakhar and Sharjeel are not available

My point is that players need to earn their spots

Let him play at whatever position the team deems fit and then get promoted.

What would be wrong would be to discard him if he fails once or twice.

His recent scores in BPL weren't that great and then he was discarded.

 

[Rana]

My point is that players need to earn their spots

Let him play at whatever position the team deems fit and then get promoted.

What would be wrong would be to discard him if he fails once or twice.

His recent scores in BPL weren't that great and then he was discarded.

He was picked on the basis of his excellent performances for Sindh as an opener in the national cup. How else is he supposed to earn his spot?

 

[Ahmed216]

I do share ur concerns. Babar is too self centered it seems

 

[shah_1]

PSL is not meant for development of players. He is a captain, he will bat wherever he likes

Stop moaning

 

[Rana]

PSL is not meant for development of players. He is a captain, he will bat wherever he likes

Stop moaning

Then why pick him?

 

[shah_1]

Then why pick him?

Bench strength

 

[TheSultan]

Saim Ayub should play where he is told to.

No one is born with his batting position number etched on his forehead.

Too much of this "I cant score if I play at number x" business going on.

Young player like him if he has talent should come in at number 11 and prove his worth.

In principle yes, but a similar standard should be applied to the captain too. We can’t have a captain of any team base his batting order on what is good for him and not the team.

Saim Ayub is an opener and that is best for the team. If Babar wants to open because it makes him look better then that should not be allowed.

Pakistan’s problem is not that the young players are complaining. We are being held to hostage by our captain who only does what is good for him and his friend rizwan. He is now going to be applying the same mindset to Peshawar too.

 

[Rana]

Bench strength

Bench strength for what??? He is the best emerging Batsman in Pakistan right now!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Babar should drop down the order imo.

If he plays like he played last PSL with tuk tuks and remains not out then its a waste of his development and Saims.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

PSL is not meant for development of players. He is a captain, he will bat wherever he likes

Stop moaning

As national team captain he must take some responsibility to develop players.

I think the words like 'ruined' used by the OP are perhaps unsurprisingly unnecessary hyperbole but as a neutral spectator I would prefer Saim is given an opportunity rather than Babar anchoring again.

 

[shah_1]

Bench strength for what??? He is the best emerging Batsman in Pakistan right now!

This is your opinion. National T20 is a very low barometer to judge anyone.

As national team captain he must take some responsibility to develop players.

I think the words like 'ruined' used by the OP are perhaps unsurprisingly unnecessary hyperbole but as a neutral spectator I would prefer Saim is given an opportunity rather than Babar anchoring again.

Captain of Zalmi and Pakistan are two different responsibilities. It is the job of PCB to develop Saim Ayub by bringing in world class coaches to HPC and give him A tours outside Pakistan.

 

[Rana]

As national team captain he must take some responsibility to develop players.

I think the words like 'ruined' used by the OP are perhaps unsurprisingly unnecessary hyperbole but as a neutral spectator I would prefer Saim is given an opportunity rather than Babar anchoring again.

Why is the word ruin wrong?

Babar ruined Fakhar and Sharjeel. He will ruin Saim as well

 

[gazza619]

Whilst I am disappointed at the lack of vision from Babar, these other young guns who been here Friday Friday 8 days are very much overrated.

Everybody will get their turn to shine and Babar is not part of the establishment where he can single handedly destroy things.

 

[Saj]

Saim at number 3 would work, if he is really that good?

 

[Rana]

Saim at number 3 would work, if he is really that good?

You all said the same about Fakhar Zaman

Look at how that turned out.

Let a natural opener open the innings

 

[KyoOne]

Saim at number 3 would work, if he is really that good?

It could. But a naturally aggressive opener should be at the top to maximize on the fielding restrictions.

Babars and Rizwans are more suited to middle overs where they can nudge around & play grounded strokes.

 

[Hextro]

Saim hasn't proved himself to be a dependable opener in league-level t20 yet. He failed in his previous PSL season and he didn't score runs in the BPL. Let him build himself up at number 3, and if he does well they can let him open eventually.

 

[Rana]

Saim hasn't proved himself to be a dependable opener in league-level t20 yet. He failed in his previous PSL season and he didn't score runs in the BPL. Let him build himself up at number 3, and if he does well they can let him open eventually.

What a dumb suggestion

Number 3 is the most crucial batting position in all formats

How can you build yourself in that position if that’s not what you are trained to do?

 

[TheSultan]

What a dumb suggestion

Number 3 is the most crucial batting position in all formats

How can you build yourself in that position if that’s not what you are trained to do?

Exactly - how can can opener prove himself as an opener when he bats at 3?

is opening a reward?

 

[Markhor]

Babar playing politics again. This guy's adamant refusal to put the team above himself for once and move to #3 has hurt Pakistan and probably will hurt PZ too.

 

[Rana]

Babar playing politics again. This guy's adamant refusal to put the team above himself for once and move to #3 has hurt Pakistan and probably will hurt PZ too.

I can’t believe Inzimam is letting this happen

He demoted to 5 so that Yousuf can bat at 4 in ODI so that he can guide the lower order through to finish games at the back end of his career

 

[Hextro]

What a dumb suggestion

Number 3 is the most crucial batting position in all formats

How can you build yourself in that position if that’s not what you are trained to do?

Not sure if you are aware of this but Saim has already opened in the PSL. In 7 innings he scored 114 runs at an SR of 108 with 0 fifties as an opener. If he scored some runs in the BPL Peshawar would have had more faith in him but he failed to do so. Even someone like Babar first opened in T20Is after 17 innings into his T20I career.

Saim has to prove himself before he can be allowed to open in place of Babar or Haris.

 

[MenInG]

Thread about Saim and Babar.

 

[topspin]

I can’t believe Inzimam is letting this happen

He demoted to 5 so that Yousuf can bat at 4 in ODI so that he can guide the lower order through to finish games at the back end of his career

Which is why Babar will always remain the inferior to Inzy in white ball bat cricket even though the stats paint a different picture.

 

[Saj]

I doubt Babar will move from the opening position.

Probably a case of when he moved from KK - the agreement was that he will skipper and open.

 

[gazza619]

I can’t believe Inzimam is letting this happen

He demoted to 5 so that Yousuf can bat at 4 in ODI so that he can guide the lower order through to finish games at the back end of his career

Which is why Babar will always remain the inferior to Inzy in white ball bat cricket even though the stats paint a different picture.

Lets make one thing very clear. Inzi was not some Messiah who demoted himself to 5 for sake of the nation. His fitness simply didnt allow him to bat at 4 and do all the fast running in an ODI.

Hence MoYo moving up the order was the natural move.

 

[Rana]

Lets make one thing very clear. Inzi was not some Messiah who demoted himself to 5 for sake of the nation. His fitness simply didnt allow him to bat at 4 and do all the fast running in an ODI.

Hence MoYo moving up the order was the natural move.

Oh bhai khuda ka khauf kar. Inzimam didn’t demote himself to 5 because of fitness.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...dia-vs-pakistan-3rd-test-64127/full-scorecard

How do you score 187 at a sr of 61 in Test at number 5 if you are not fit enough to bat in top 4??

I had doubts about your understanding of the game but please don’t expose yourself anymore because you are a decent guy

 

[topspin]

Lets make one thing very clear. Inzi was not some Messiah who demoted himself to 5 for sake of the nation. His fitness simply didnt allow him to bat at 4 and do all the fast running in an ODI.

Hence MoYo moving up the order was the natural move.

Let me ask you, if you were the Pakistan ODI captain during the 2000s and you had Inzy and MoYo in your batting line up, who would you bat at 4 and 5 (assuming they have the same fitness)?

Fitness or no fitness, you're always going to opt for MoYo at 4 with Inzy at 5.

 

[gazza619]

Oh bhai khuda ka khauf kar. Inzimam didn’t demote himself to 5 because of fitness.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...dia-vs-pakistan-3rd-test-64127/full-scorecard

How do you score 187 at a sr of 61 in Test at number 5 if you are not fit enough to bat in top 4??

I had doubts about your understanding of the game but please don’t expose yourself anymore because you are a decent guy

Scoring 180 off 274 balls requires different fitness compared to scoring 100 off 110 balls.

Its basic common sense that!

 

[gazza619]

Let me ask you, if you were the Pakistan ODI captain during the 2000s and you had Inzy and MoYo in your batting line up, who would you bat at 4 and 5 (assuming they have the same fitness)?

Fitness or no fitness, you're always going to opt for MoYo at 4 with Inzy at 5.

Inzi mostly had a runner as soon as he reached in his 80s or 90s.

A super fit Inzi would have been my opener in all formats of the game scoring double hundreds, left, right and centre.

MoYo was your natural number 3

 

[Rana]

I doubt Babar will move from the opening position.

Probably a case of when he moved from KK - the agreement was that he will skipper and open.

Then he should not have signed Ayub and should have gone for someone who was going to bat in the middle

Total waste of a pick for PZ and PSL overall!

This was Saim’s year to be in the leading run scorers with a 140+ strike rate!

 

[topspin]

Inzi mostly had a runner as soon as he reached in his 80s or 90s.

A super fit Inzi would have been my opener in all formats of the game scoring double hundreds, left, right and centre.

MoYo was your natural number 3

Inzy was known to be a nervous starter who was more susceptible than most to getting out early in his innings because it took him a little bit of time to read the conditions and get his feet moving. He certainly wouldn't have been a suitable test match opener and in ODIs he was better suited to batting at 4 or 5 because of his calm demeanour during run chases.

I agree with you on MoYo though.

 

[hitthestump]

Babar playing politics again. This guy's adamant refusal to put the team above himself for once and move to #3 has hurt Pakistan and probably will hurt PZ too.

Why?

He is a t20 opener and the one of the best in the world.

On what basis does an unproven youngster with one decent domestic season behind him get to usurp Babar?

I mean Babar COULD do it....but he certainly doesn't have to or be slated for it whatsoever.

 

[Rana]

The following rubbish T20 players will be opening in the PSL whilst Ayub has to bat at 3 or 4:

Shan Masood
Abdullah Shafique
Ahsan Ali
Haider Ali (possibly)
Babar Azam
Mohammad Rizwan

Absolute joke!

 

[TheSultan]

The following rubbish T20 players will be opening in the PSL whilst Ayub has to bat at 3 or 4:

Shan Masood
Abdullah Shafique
Ahsan Ali
Haider Ali (possibly)
Babar Azam
Mohammad Rizwan

Absolute joke!

That really is terrible. Why do we have this obsession with these players. Is everyone in the PCB, PSL franchises blind or something?

 

[Falcon'sParwaz]

I’m deeply concerned about this. Saim is IMO already a better T20 opener than Babar when it comes to intent, aerial stroke play, risk shots and aggression.

He has been picked by a franchise that practically will only play either him or Muhammad Harris as opener to bat with Babar, because we know Babar will not sacrifice his opening spot for anyone. Harris is already the ‘senior’ in this regard considering he has played clutch innings for Pakistan in the World Cup and he established himself as PZ’s opener last year

Babar destroyed the careers of Fakhar Zaman for Pakistan, Sharjeel Khan at KK and now Saim Ayub is potentially next in line to take a back seat to Babar’s obsession with opening by using his power as captain.

Discuss!

Replace Fakhar with Haider, rest is true.

I'm not sold on Fakhar as an opener in T20Is.
Fakhar's return as an opener were inferior to both Babar & Rizwan in terms of Avg in PP & SR in PP. But their post-PP SR are better. These stats were last updated on 11-June-2021

Harris & Haider with Saim at 3 would be a better & more destructive TO than TOs of most other Teams.

 

[Rana]

Replace Fakhar with Haider, rest is true.

I'm not sold on Fakhar as an opener in T20Is.
Fakhar's return as an opener were inferior to both Babar & Rizwan in terms of Avg in PP & SR in PP. But their post-PP SR are better. These stats were last updated on 11-June-2021

Harris & Haider with Saim at 3 would be a better & more destructive TO than TOs of most other Teams.

Fakhar was last year’s PSL’s leading run scorer with a brilliant strike rate. What position did he bat?

 

[Saj]

Babar won't move himself away from opening at PSL8.

The only way Saim will open is if Babar gets injured or Haris struggles badly.

 

[Rana]

Replace Fakhar with Haider, rest is true.

I'm not sold on Fakhar as an opener in T20Is.
Fakhar's return as an opener were inferior to both Babar & Rizwan in terms of Avg in PP & SR in PP. But their post-PP SR are better. These stats were last updated on 11-June-2021

Harris & Haider with Saim at 3 would be a better & more destructive TO than TOs of most other Teams.

This is why I think Sharjeel and Fakhar are the best opening combination

Look at their post PP sr! They are the ones you’d better off seeing them get themselves in instead of Rizwan and Babar

 

[Darkrai]

I wanted Saim to open too but if he has the quality, it shouldn't matter if opens or bats at 3.

We need mentally strong cricketers who aren't afraid of batting out of their comfort zones.

These days if you can't bat well in the middle order then you're likely not the best t20 batter anyway.

 

[Rana]

I wanted Saim to open too but if he has the quality, it shouldn't matter if opens or bats at 3.

We need mentally strong cricketers who aren't afraid of batting out of their comfort zones.

These days if you can't bat well in the middle order then you're likely not the best t20 batter anyway.

So why doesn’t Babar drop down to 3?

 

[Darkrai]

So why doesn’t Babar drop down to 3?

There are several reasons/excuses you can give for Babar needing to open, but he's simply not the best t20 batter nor the bravest. He's good but his limitations make him less than ideal for t20 batting.

Regardless of where Babar Bats, i'm more interested in seeing if Saim has that ability that our current openers lack, and him batting at 3 or 4 will be a good test.

 

[Rana]

There are several reasons/excuses you can give for Babar needing to open, but he's simply not the best t20 batter nor the bravest. He's good but his limitations make him less than ideal for t20 batting.

Regardless of where Babar Bats, i'm more interested in seeing if Saim has that ability that our current openers lack, and him batting at 3 or 4 will be a good test.

No thanks. He doesn’t need a test at 21 years old and shattering his confidence forever

He is an opener. He opens. He always does

Kane is a number 3. Kohli is a number 3. Malan is a number 3. Smith is a number 3.

You don’t just bat at number 3 to test how good you are if that’s not what you are brought up to do. It’s the most important batting position. You can’t take risks on that position.

I don’t understand why Pakistanis cannot understand this?? Why doesn’t Babar open in ODI and Test if that’s his natural position?

 

[Rana]

So Peshawar Zalmi picked him to bat in the middle?

Or did they pick him knowing that they can bench him and not make Babar look below par as an opener if he (Saim) gets a full run as an opener at another franchise?

 

[Darkrai]

No thanks. He doesn’t need a test at 21 years old and shattering his confidence forever

He is an opener. He opens. He always does

Kane is a number 3. Kohli is a number 3. Malan is a number 3. Smith is a number 3.

You don’t just bat at number 3 to test how good you are if that’s not what you are brought up to do. It’s the most important batting position. You can’t take risks on that position.

I don’t understand why Pakistanis cannot understand this?? Why doesn’t Babar open in ODI and Test if that’s his natural position?

"Shattering his confidence forever". This is just weak mentality. If he is that rubbish that simply batting one down in PSL will end him then he should give up cricket.

 

[shamaan]

"Shattering his confidence forever". This is just weak mentality. If he is that rubbish that simply batting one down in PSL will end him then he should give up cricket.

Haris should bat at 3 as he batted in that position before.

 

[Officer Barbrady]

Let’s hope Saim has a good tournament!

 

[Suleiman]

Saim Ayub should play where he is told to.

No one is born with his batting position number etched on his forehead.

Too much of this "I cant score if I play at number x" business going on.

Young player like him if he has talent should come in at number 11 and prove his worth.

Disagree completely. Babar himself was lucky to play at 3 under Mickey who ensured Hafeez was not hogging that space as he had before from the likes of Maqsood in his prime years where he was being forced to bat at 6-7 despite being a #3 in domestics.

Maybe middle order batsmen can be shuffled around like a number 3 being played at 4-5. But an opener being played at 4 for no reason other than to accommodate someone else or a number 3-4 being played at 6-7 for no reason also makes no sense.

Your responsibility as an opener and as a middle order batsman and then lower order / finisher are different. Can’t deny that just to justify what Babar is doing here.

Wasim Akram had already spilled the beans on Babar too.

 

[MenInG]

Virtually opening for Peshawar Saim.

 

[Rana]

Virtually opening for Peshawar Saim.

No. He was number 3

Number 3s are not virtual openers

 

[MenInG]

Virtually opening for Peshawar Saim.

Run out for 1 - unlucky!

 

[MenInG]

No. He was number 3

Number 3s are not virtual openers

Look at the scorecard.

 

[zarak]

No. He was number 3

Number 3s are not virtual openers

With Haris playing aggressive. Either Zalmi will get of to a flyer or Saim will come early

 

[asadee]

Unlucky. Was really looking forward to watch him play

 

[asfandyar]

Pakistani batsmen need to be cuddled, pampered, manicured and pedicured to realize their full potential.

 

[Rana]

Babar now 31 off 28

What’s the point doing this as an opener??

 

[KyoOne]

Babar now 31 off 28

What’s the point doing this as an opener??

He cares about his average the foremost. Expect him to play the same for first 30-40 balls every match.

Not seen a bigger statspadder

 

[MenInG]

Run out for 1 - unlucky!

Very unlucky

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[shamaan]

Babar now 31 off 28

What’s the point doing this as an opener??

But he has given Saim a chance I certainly didn't expect him to be playing in the xi .

 

[MenInG]

Saim Ayub smashing the bowling today - very impressive

 

[asadee]

This guy is a class above all young Pakistani batsmen

 

[FreakCricket]

Babar should retire from T20 cricket, he's a big liability in 20over cricket.

 

[MenInG]

Saim Ayub smashing the bowling today - very impressive

Excellent innings:

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[Rana]

Babar has no justification to open with Harris

 

[Zaz]

A class player like babar doesnt ruin cricketers but makes them Saim is thriving under his tutelage it seems

 

[SalimBhai]

Maybe the best talent I have seen come out of Pakistan in a long long time. Needs to put on some muscle.

 

[heddie19]

A class player like babar doesnt ruin cricketers but makes them Saim is thriving under his tutelage it seems

Babar the GOAT.

 

[Rana]

Babar the GOAT.

Well he did look like a Baqri today against MS with the bat

 

[Alter_Ego]

Well he did look like a Baqri today against MS with the bat

so all this while they referred him as Baqri

 

[Officer Barbrady]

This was such an exciting knock by Saim.

When was the last time a Pakistani batsman invented a new shot? I think he has 2 new ones.

Maybe Miandad with the reverse sweep (if that’s not a myth)?

 

[MenInG]

Ramiz Raja speaking on his YT

Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris have immense potential and are future openers of Pakistan in T20I cricket," said Raja.

"However, after getting a start and setting the tempo, they should have finished the match. Not finishing the game is a waste of their talent and potential," he added.

Haris gave an ideal start to Zalmi, but they failed to capitalise on it and lost the game by 56 runs. Haris scored 40 from 23 balls, while Saim perished after scoring his highest PSL score of 53.

Former cricketer also emphasised the need to promote younger players through HBL PSL.

"I strongly believe Pakistan Super League should not be meant for players, who are close to 40 years in age. We put the careers of young cricketers and future stars on stake just because of friendships," he said