India will take on Pakistan on Sunday, September 14, in Dubai, in what promises to be a blockbuster clash between two cricketing giants. While many will be expecting the proven superstars on either side to take the spotlight, there is a certain 23-year-old who will be looking to make his mark. The young Pakistani left-hander Saim Ayub will have many eyes keenly watching him as he opens the batting against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and co.
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Saim Ayub combines his fleet footwork along with masterful strokeplay, and coming from a land of fast bowlers, is a breath of fresh air no one saw coming. Making it to the international scene just in 2023, he has quickly stamped his authority in the limited-overs formats.
The hype has stretched beyond the usual fan chatter. Senior campaigners and analysts have even likened Ayub’s ceiling to that of Babar Azam, with Fakhar Zaman calling him an “updated version” of the former captain. Mike Hesson, Pakistan's head coach, even claimed that, “Look, Saim is a key player for us and we know that if Saim scores runs, we generally win.”
Already drawing comparisons against his counterpart, Abhishek Sharma, Saim Ayub will have an uphill task against an in-form Indian bowling lineup, spearheaded by none other than Bumrah. The youngster didn't get off to a good start against Oman as he got out for a golden duck. But that's what makes tomorrow all the more exciting for him, as he will be looking to prove a point. And who better than eternal rivals India to do it against?
This is a young and bold Pakistan team coming off an easy victory against Oman. And Saim Ayub is at its forefront. He embodies what to expect of this new Pakistan side that features a lot of new names on their T20I roster.
It's not easy to step into the former World No. 1 Babar Azam's shoes, but from the way he is spoken about, Ayub seems like the real deal. But there's only one way to find that out. And that is under the brightest lights against the biggest rivals.
