Saim Ayub released from Pakistan ODI squad; Sahibzada Farhan named
The PCB has released opener Saim Ayub from the ODI squad for the rest of the tri-series. Sahibzada Farhan has been named as his replacement.
- Saim Ayub released from the ODI squad for the rest of the tri-series
- He asked to return to domestic cricket to work on his batting form
- Sahibzada Farhan named as replacement
- Pakistan face Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Tuesday, 27 October
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that opening batter Saim Ayub has been released from the men's ODI squad for the remainder of the ongoing tri-series, which also features England and Sri Lanka.
According to the PCB, Saim spoke with the head coach and asked to return to domestic cricket to work on his batting form and regain confidence. The team management and the national selection committee agreed to accept the request. ESPNcricinfo names the coach as Mike Hesson.
The national selection committee has named Sahibzada Farhan as his replacement for the rest of the tri-series. Minute Mirror reports that Farhan, a right-handed batter, currently leads Pakistan's T20I team.
Minute Mirror said Farhan's ODI experience is limited: six appearances in which he scored 101 runs at an average of 16.83.
The 24-year-old Saim, a left-handed opener, has scored 21 runs in three matches in the current competition, according to Minute Mirror. Across his ODI career he has made 772 runs in 20 matches at an average of 40.63, with three centuries and three half-centuries. In his last 11 ODI innings he has scored 257 runs at an average of 23.36, with two half-centuries. Minute Mirror quoted him as saying: "I want to improve my performance by playing domestic cricket."
The change follows Pakistan's one-wicket win over England on Sunday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Chasing 243, Pakistan were 154-9 before Shadab Khan's unbeaten 113 and an unbroken 89-run partnership with Haris Rauf took them home. The win was Pakistan's third in a row and secured their place in the final.
Pakistan will play Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday, 27 October.
Why it matters
The change affects Pakistan's ODI batting line-up as the team prepares for the final of a home tri-series, which is of interest to cricket fans across Pakistan.
