**Asia Cup 2025: Saim Ayub Sets Unwanted Record**
*By Parth Dhall | Sep 29, 2025 | 05:19 pm*
Pakistan opener Saim Ayub endured a challenging tournament in the recently concluded Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025. Despite being regarded as one of the most talented openers, Ayub struggled with the bat, managing an average of just 5.28 throughout the competition. This unfortunate performance marks the second-lowest batting average for a top-order player (positions 1-3) in a T20I series, according to Cricbuzz. His dismal run included four ducks during the event.
### A Difficult Asia Cup for Ayub
Ayub’s underwhelming form significantly impacted Pakistan’s top order. Across seven innings, he scored only 37 runs, averaging a mere 5.28. Cricbuzz notes that this is the second-lowest average recorded by any top-order batter in a T20I series between Full Member nations. The only player with a worse average is Zimbabwe’s Regis Chakabva, who averaged 5 during the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup.
Starting the tournament as an opener, Ayub was eventually moved down the batting order as his struggles continued. His scores included three consecutive ducks against Oman, India, and the UAE, followed by another duck against Bangladesh. The only respite came in two matches against India, where he scored 21 and 14 runs respectively.
### Strength with the Ball
Although Ayub found runs hard to come by, he proved effective with his off-spin bowling. He took eight wickets in seven matches during the Asia Cup, maintaining an impressive average of 16.00 and an economy rate of 6.40. His bowling efforts were a bright spot amid his batting woes.
### Career Overview
Since making his T20I debut in 2023, Saim Ayub has played 48 matches, accumulating 853 runs at an average of 19.38. He boasts a strike rate of 134.11 and has scored four half-centuries in this format so far. Despite the recent setback in the Asia Cup, Ayub remains a promising talent for Pakistan’s cricket future.
—
Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on the Asia Cup and international cricket.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/pakistan-s-saim-ayub-hits-record-low-in-t20i-cricket/story
Be First to Comment