Pakistan have released opener Saim Ayub from their squad for the ODI tri-series, and T20I captain Sahibzada Farhan has been named as his replacement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. The board said the decision was made at Ayub’s request, as the batter wants to regain his form in domestic cricket.
The PCB said it respected Ayub’s decision and had advised him to play domestic cricket. The move follows a difficult run for Ayub, who struggled with both bat and ball in Pakistan’s first three matches of the tri-series.
Ayub’s struggles across three tri-series matches
Ayub’s poor form began against Sri Lanka, where he made just seven runs and failed to take a wicket. He added eight runs without a wicket in Pakistan’s second match against England, then managed only six runs in the third game against the same opponent on Saturday.
His total of 21 runs across the three matches, with no wickets, fell short of expectations. The 24-year-old’s request to return to domestic cricket is aimed at working on his batting.
Farhan called up after strong Sri Lanka series
Farhan joins the ODI squad after an impressive performance in Pakistan’s recent T20I series against Sri Lanka, which the hosts won 2-1. He scored 238 runs in three matches and was named player of the series.
Farhan is currently captain of Pakistan’s T20I side. His inclusion gives the team a replacement for Ayub as it prepares for the tri-series final.
Pakistan unbeaten and through to the final
Pakistan have won all three of their tri-series matches and qualified for the final. They opened with a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka and then beat England by 87 runs in their second match.
In the third match, Pakistan beat England again in a closely contested game, securing their place in the final and maintaining their unbeaten record in the tournament. The PCB had also released left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem from the squad a day earlier.
