🏟️ Asia Cup 2025: Saim Ayub’s Nightmare Run
The ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 has already produced big headlines, but for Pakistan opener Saim Ayub, it has turned into a tournament to forget. The 24-year-old left-hander created an unwanted piece of history by becoming the 62nd batter in men’s T20Is to register three consecutive ducks.
Against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai, Ayub fell for a two-ball duck, completing a hat-trick of zero scores after earlier failures against Oman and India. The sequence placed him in a rare but undesirable list, one that also includes some of the biggest names in world cricket.
⚡ How Saim Ayub Got Out vs UAE
Pakistan, batting first in a must-win clash against UAE, suffered early blows. On the fifth delivery of the innings, Junaid Siddique bowled a short and wide delivery outside off. Ayub went hard at it, attempting a cut shot, but failed to get the required elevation. The ball carried straight to Muhammad Rohid at deep third man, leaving the opener walking back without troubling the scorers.
It was a dismissal symbolic of his current struggles—caught between aggression and control, unable to find the balance required at the international stage.
📉 Three Consecutive Ducks: A Painful Record
Saim Ayub’s scores in the Asia Cup 2025 group stage:
- 🆚 Oman → Golden Duck (0 off 1 ball)
- 🆚 India → Golden Duck (0 off 1 ball)
- 🆚 UAE → Two-ball Duck (0 off 2 balls)
This made him only the third Pakistani batter to bag three consecutive ducks in men’s T20Is, joining:
- Mohammad Hafeez
- Abdullah Shafique
Notably, Abdullah Shafique tops the list with four consecutive ducks, a record no batter would want to own.
📊 Most Ducks for Pakistan in T20Is
With this latest dismissal, Saim Ayub recorded his eighth duck in T20Is, drawing him level with Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s iconic all-rounder.
Here’s the updated list:
- Umar Akmal – 10 ducks in 84 matches
- Shahid Afridi – 8 ducks in 98 matches
- Saim Ayub – 8 ducks in 44 matches
- Kamran Akmal – 7 ducks in 58 matches
- Mohammad Hafeez – 7 ducks in 119 matches
- Babar Azam – 7 ducks in 128 matches
While Afridi’s eight ducks came over the course of a long and eventful career, Ayub’s rapid accumulation in just 44 matches raises questions about his consistency and temperament at the highest level.
💔 From Rising Star to Pressure Point
Saim Ayub entered Pakistan’s T20 setup as a promising young opener, hailed for his fearless stroke play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Many saw him as the long-term replacement for veterans like Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik.
However, international cricket has proved unforgiving. His eagerness to dominate from ball one has often left him exposed, and bowlers around the world have quickly found his weaknesses.
While he still averages in the low twenties, the frequency of ducks and single-digit scores is alarming for a top-order batter expected to give Pakistan solid starts.
🏏 Comparisons with Shahid Afridi
Drawing level with Shahid Afridi in an unwanted statistic is ironic. Afridi, known as “Boom Boom”, built his career on explosive innings, but his high-risk style naturally brought many failures.
Afridi played 98 T20Is, contributing with bat, ball, and leadership. His eight ducks are overshadowed by match-winning cameos, wickets, and unforgettable moments.
In contrast, Ayub is only 24 and still in the early stages of his career. Matching Afridi’s duck tally so soon signals inconsistency rather than longevity.
🧐 What This Means for Pakistan
Pakistan’s batting unit already faces scrutiny for over-reliance on senior players like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. With Ayub struggling at the top, pressure mounts on selectors and coaches.
Should Pakistan persist with Ayub’s raw talent, or should they explore alternatives such as:
- Mohammad Haris – A wicketkeeper-opener with attacking instincts.
- Haider Ali – Another young batter waiting in the wings.
- Shan Masood – Experienced and reliable in building innings.
The Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2025 will test whether Pakistan backs Ayub or makes a tactical change.
🔍 Why Do Batters Struggle with Ducks in T20Is?
T20 cricket is high-risk, high-reward. Openers, in particular, face the new ball with aggressive intent, making them more prone to early dismissals.
Key reasons why batters like Saim Ayub fall victim to ducks:
- Over-aggression in powerplay overs.
- Lack of shot selection under pressure.
- Bowlers exploiting technical weaknesses.
- Mental pressure after repeated failures.
For young players, the mental side often proves tougher than the technical challenge.
📢 Cricketory Insights & Analysis
At Cricketory, we see Saim Ayub’s slump as a turning point in his career. Every young batter faces setbacks, but the real test is in the comeback.
- Positives: Ayub still has age on his side, natural stroke-making ability, and Pakistan’s management backing him.
- Negatives: A fragile temperament under pressure, lack of adaptability against swing and short-pitched bowling.
If nurtured correctly, Ayub could still become a star. Pakistan must decide whether to give him a longer rope in the Asia Cup and upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 preparations, or shield him from further exposure until he regains confidence in domestic cricket.
The comparison with Afridi might sting today, but it could also serve as motivation. Afridi himself faced criticism for years but ended up as one of Pakistan’s most iconic players. Ayub must now write his own redemption story.
❓ FAQs
Q1: How many ducks does Saim Ayub have in T20Is?
👉 Saim Ayub has 8 ducks in 44 T20Is, equaling Shahid Afridi’s tally.Q2: Who holds the record for most ducks in Pakistan T20I history?
👉 Umar Akmal leads with 10 ducks in 84 matches.Q3: Which Pakistani players have recorded three consecutive ducks in T20Is?
👉 Saim Ayub, Mohammad Hafeez, and Abdullah Shafique.Q4: Who tops the list of consecutive ducks in T20Is worldwide?
👉 Abdullah Shafique holds the unwanted record with 4 consecutive ducks.Q5: Will Saim Ayub play in Pakistan’s Super Four matches in Asia Cup 2025?
👉 Selection remains uncertain. Pakistan may give him one more chance, but alternatives like Mohammad Haris are being considered.📝 Final Thoughts
Saim Ayub’s unwanted record in the Asia Cup 2025 is a harsh reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in T20 cricket. Once seen as Pakistan’s next big opener, he now faces criticism after joining Shahid Afridi on the list of most ducks.
But cricket is a game of comebacks. If Ayub can learn from this low point, tighten his shot selection, and rebuild confidence, he has the potential to turn things around. Pakistan will need all the firepower it can get in the Super Four stage and beyond, and a rejuvenated Ayub could still play a vital role.
For now, however, the headlines belong to his third consecutive duck—a statistic he’ll be desperate to erase in the matches to come.