My target is not fifty or hundred, says Saim Ayub

Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has shared insights into his approach to batting as he aims to leave a mark on the international cricket scene.

Despite featuring in 19 T20Is for Pakistan, the talented opener is yet to fully unleash his potential, his highest score standing at 49 with a strike-rate of 131.06.

Ayub emphasized his focus on contributing to Pakistan's victories rather than fixating on personal batting milestones.

“My target is Man of the Match, not fifty or a hundred. I don’t thing about numbers as I aim to win the match for my team. It can be any figure, 50, 70 or 100, but I don’t think about that since I’m focused on winning the match,” Ayub said.

Ayub also shed light on his trademark 'no-look' shot, recalling its debut during the National T20 in 2022. He clarified that the shot wasn't premeditated but rather a spontaneous decision prompted by the field placement.

“I think it was the National T20 in 2022 where I played the no-look shot for the first time but it was not something that I had pre-planned. I was not able to find scoring options so, when I saw that the fine-leg was up in the circle, I played that shot. It was not my intention to not look at the shot, it just happened automatically,” he said.

“However, I don’t prioritise this since it is a high-risk shot. I try to play the other shots more often and only play the no-look shot when it is absolutely necessary,” he added.