Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has stirred cricketing circles after hailing Saim Ayub as the “updated version” of Babar Azam, adding that the young left-hander has not yet showcased 80 per cent of his talent. In a video released by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Fakhar praised Saim’s skills and style of play, comparing him to former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who has earned multiple ICC accolades for his batting brilliance. “Someone asked me in Lahore, and I told him that he is Babar Azam’s updated version,” Fakhar said.

“He is a very different player, and I think he has not yet shown 80 per cent of himself to the world.” The 35-year-old batter highlighted that despite Saim’s promising start, his best is yet to come.Saim Ayub made his T20I debut for Pakistan in March 2023 and has played 41 matches so far. He has scored 816 runs at an average of 22.05 with a strike rate of 136.45, including four half-centuries. His career-best knock of 98 not out came against South Africa in Centurion, a performance that underlined his potential as a match-winner for the Green Shirts.

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson echoed Fakhar’s remarks. While noting that Saim’s contributions have not always been consistent, he emphasized the impact of the youngster’s runs.“Look, Saim is a key player for us, and we know that if Saim scores runs, we generally win,” Hesson said.  “It’s not so much about contributions; it’s a matter of if it’s your day, you win—and Saim is certainly one of those players.”This is not the first time Fakhar has placed Saim in the same league as Babar Azam.

In earlier interviews, he described Saim as Pakistan’s most exciting talent since Babar’s rise. The timing of the comment is significant as Babar faces a challenging period in his career, having lost his T20I spot to younger players while struggling to replicate his past dominance. While Saim’s promise excites fans, analysts caution that it may be premature to compare him directly with Babar, one of Pakistan’s most accomplished batters in history.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)