Former England captain Nasser Hussain has named Pakistan’s rising star Saim Ayub as a potential member of cricket’s next ‘Fab Four.’ Hussain shared his views during a podcast with Michael Atherton, praising Ayub for his versatility and dynamic batting at the top of the order.  

“I’m going to go with Saim Ayub, who I think is a multi-format player. He just had this injury, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be fit for the Champions Trophy, but he could be a dynamic player at the top of the order for Pakistan across all formats,” Hussain said.  

Hussain also included England’s Harry Brook and India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal in his list, while mentioning Travis Head as a contender. However, Atherton humorously dismissed Head’s inclusion, citing his age. Instead, Atherton suggested Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra as future stars, along with Brook and Jaiswal.  

The concept of the ‘Fab Four’ began in 2013 when Martin Crowe predicted that Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson would dominate world cricket. Over the years, these players have set a high standard for consistency and excellence across formats.  

Saim Ayub, 22, is already making a name for himself despite being in the early stages of his career. Since debuting against Afghanistan in March 2023, he has played 44 international matches. His ODI record is particularly impressive, with three centuries and a half-century in just nine games.  

Ayub’s aggressive yet composed batting style has made him a key player for Pakistan. He played a crucial role in Pakistan’s 3-0 ODI series win against South Africa last year, scoring two centuries and earning Player of the Series honors.  

Unfortunately, Ayub is currently recovering from a fractured ankle sustained during the Cape Town Test against South Africa. The injury has ruled him out of the home Test series against the West Indies and a tri-nation series with New Zealand and South Africa.  

To speed up his recovery ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sent Ayub to London for treatment with assistant coach Azhar Mahmood. The PCB is awaiting an update on his fitness before finalizing the squad for the tournament, which runs from February 19 to March 9.  

Sources say the PCB plans to announce the final squad by February 11, once Ayub’s fitness is confirmed. The board has decided not to release a provisional squad and will submit the final list directly to the ICC.