'Saim is a player of Babar's category,' Shadab Khan

Shadab Khan, Pakistan's skipper for the Afghanistan T20I series, highly rated Saim Ayub and said he is excited to play alongside the youngster during upcoming matches. 

In Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast, Shadab said players like Saim, Babar, and Abdullah Shafique always look special when they play. 

"I think Saim is an exceptional talent. After a very long time, we have got a player like him who we can say is as stylish and good as Babar and Abdullah," lauded Shadab. 

"The way he [Saim] plays, he is a player of Babar's category. Players like them are too good to watch even when they score runs against your team. They are too stylish batters," he added. 

Saim opened innings alongside skipper Babar for Peshawar Zalmi in recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8. His stylish batting and consistency made him a solid candidate for the Pakistan team's call-up. The left-handed batter, who scored 341 runs in 12 matches in PSL 8, was named in Pakistan's squad against Afghanistan in three-match T20I series. 

PCB has given rest to its main players including captain Babar, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman.

The team's vice-captain in white-ball format, Shadab will lead the squad in Babar's absence. Youngsters including Saim Ayub, Azam Khan, Ihsanullah and Zaman Khan, who performed well in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8, have made it into the national squad for Afghanistan series.

T20I Squad against Afghanistan

Shadab Khan (c), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan

Reserved players: Abrar Ahmed, Haseebullah, Usama Mir

Schedule

Mar 24 - First T20I - Sharjah

Mar 26 - Second T20I - Sharjah

Mar 27 - Third T20I - Sharjah

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