Pakistan Opts for Continuity with Saim Ayub as Opener

Pakistan has chosen Saim Ayub as the opener for the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, prioritising continuity, according to captain Shan Masood. Masood also mentioned that Muhammad Hurraira, who was considered for selection, will have to wait for his international debut.

Hurraira, 22, has been a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket, and just last month, he notched up 218 runs against a Bangladesh High-Performance XI in a four-day match in Darwin. In his debut season in 2021-22, Hurraira amassed 986 runs at an average of 58, including a triple-century. On the other hand, Ayub, who scored 0 and 33 in his only Test match so far, against Australia in January in Sydney, has been given another opportunity.

Masood accentuated that Pakistan has a wealth of talent in their opening batting options. He noted that Imam-ul-Haq is not part of this series, and the team does not restrict itself to just 17 players but considers a broader pool of 20-25 players. Initially, they viewed this series as an ideal opportunity to assess what Hurraira could bring to the Pakistan team after his consistent domestic performances over the past few years. However, they decided to rest Imam and back Saim, who showed promise in the second innings against Australia. Masood stressed the importance of sending a message of continuity by giving players a fair chance.

Pakistan will also field an all-pace attack in the series opener against Bangladesh, which is unusual for their selection policy. Masood explained that the decision was influenced by the conditions in Rawalpindi. They wanted Mohammad Ali in the lineup to perform a role similar to Aamer Jamal, who had excelled in Australia earlier in the year. Ali’s 19 wickets in PSL 2024 brought him into the spotlight, but he has also been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, with 150 wickets in 41 first-class matches at an average of 25.72.

Masood highlighted that several factors were considered in their selection, including Pakistan’s position in the World Test Championship (WTC), the ground conditions, and team combination. He explained that Aamer Jamal was seen as a valuable asset in Australia due to his ability to attack and take crucial wickets during the middle overs. With Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah taking the new ball, they wanted someone like Jamal to bowl with similar effectiveness. Masood believes that Mohammad Ali brings a surprise element, hitting the deck hard and moving the ball both with the seam and in the air, along with extra pace.

After missing out on the finals in the last two WTC cycles, Pakistan is determined to change that trend and bring joy to their fans. Masood expressed that the team aims to play cricket that fans and media enjoy, while keeping in mind the importance of achieving results. He mentioned that Pakistan finished sixth and seventh in previous WTC cycles, but their goal this time is to reach the final. To achieve that, winning home Tests is crucial, and the challenge lies in playing consistently while delivering an exciting brand of cricket.

The first Test against Bangladesh will also mark Pakistan's first under new coach Jason Gillespie. Masood expressed his hope that the new coaching staff's approach would align with Pakistan’s strengths, particularly their fast bowling. He noted that Pakistan has six quality fast bowlers, and taking 20 wickets is essential to winning a Test match. Their strategy is to ensure the bowlers are supported by strong batting, following the same approach they used in the Australia series.