LAHORE: Pakistan batter Saim Ayub has been released from the national squad for the ongoing home ODI tri-series after struggling to find form, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) naming Sahibzada Farhan as his replacement for the remainder of the tournament.
The tri-series, featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka, is scheduled to run until October 31. The squad change comes after Pakistan secured their place in the final with a thrilling one-wicket victory over England.
According to the PCB, Ayub requested permission to return to domestic cricket to work on his batting and regain confidence following a difficult run in the 50-over format.
The decision was taken after discussions between the left-handed batter and Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson. The national selection committee and team management subsequently agreed to accept his request.
“Respecting Saim’s decision and appreciating his honest assessment of his current form, the team management and national selection committee have mutually agreed to accept this request,” the PCB said in a statement.
Saim Ayub Struggles to Find Form in ODIs
Ayub’s release follows a disappointing spell with the bat in recent ODI appearances.
The 24-year-old last scored an ODI half-century against South Africa in November last year. Since then, he has managed only 60 runs across five innings at an average of 12.
His struggles continued in the ongoing tri-series, where he registered three consecutive single-digit scores of seven, eight and six.
The left-hander had come under scrutiny following his lack of runs, although Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi had played down the possibility of dropping him ahead of the team’s second match against England.
Rather than continuing with the national side, Ayub has now opted to return to domestic cricket in an effort to rediscover his batting rhythm and confidence.
Sahibzada Farhan Replaces Saim Ayub
The PCB has named Sahibzada Farhan as Ayub’s replacement for the remaining matches of the tri-series.
Farhan, who has represented Pakistan in six ODIs, will provide another option at the top of the batting order as the team prepares for the final stages of the competition.
The Pakistan T20I captain last featured in an ODI during the team’s away series against Bangladesh in March this year.
His inclusion gives the team management an opportunity to assess his contribution in the 50-over format as Pakistan look to maintain their momentum in the tournament.
Pakistan Secure Place in Tri-Series Final
The squad change was announced a day after Pakistan booked their place in the final with a dramatic one-wicket win over England.
The hosts are scheduled to face Sri Lanka in their final league-stage fixture at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
With qualification already secured, the match will provide Pakistan with another opportunity to prepare for the title decider while assessing their available batting options.
The tri-series also features England and Sri Lanka, with the competition scheduled to conclude on October 31.
Updated Pakistan Squad for ODI Tri-Series
The PCB announced the following squad for the remainder of the tournament:
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain)
Abrar Ahmed
Salman Ali Agha
Arafat Minhas
Babar Azam
Faheem Ashraf
Fakhar Zaman
Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper)
Haris Rauf
Hasan Nawaz
Naseem Shah
Razaullah
Saad Baig (wicketkeeper)
Sahibzada Farhan
Shadab Khan
Maaz Sadaqat
Ayub’s departure marks a change in Pakistan’s batting options as the side approaches the decisive stage of the tri-series. For the young batter, a return to domestic cricket offers an opportunity to rebuild confidence and work towards a return to the national ODI setup.
