Win Projections to be updated soon
Rawalpindi, 29 October 2025:
Even in defeat, Saim Ayub’s tone was measured, reflective yet firm. Pakistan had just gone down to South Africa by 55 runs in the first T20I at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, a loss that left the hosts searching for answers after a disappointing all-round display.
Saim, who contributed 37 runs and picked up two wickets, fronted the media afterward and spoke with a blend of honesty and quiet determination.
“The plan was simple, we wanted to bowl first,” Saim said, explaining Pakistan’s decision after winning the toss. “The record at Rawalpindi, especially in these conditions, usually favours chasing because there’s a bit of dew later on. That’s why we decided to bowl first.”
But South Africa, he admitted, read the conditions better. “They executed their bowling plans very well,” Saim said. “They bowled on the right lengths and lines. We couldn’t tackle it the same way.”
When asked about Faheem Ashraf’s absence from the bowling attack, Saim deferred to the leadership group. “That’s a question for the captain and coach,” he said. “As a player, I feel we should have restricted them to a lower total. We didn’t bowl the way we should have.”
Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson, has emphasised aggression — both with bat and ball in recent series. Saim defended that approach despite Pakistan’s inconsistency. “If you look at our last few series, we’ve gone above par in terms of conditions and improved in batting,” he said. “Yes, we’ve had bad games too, but our intent has been to play positive cricket. We’ll try to outplay them in the next two matches.”
For a player still in his early 20s, Saim has already experienced both the highs of early promise and the scrutiny that follows a dip in form. Asked whether the limelight and pressure had affected him, he smiled.
“Even if a player has played 100 or 200 matches, pressure is always there,” he said. “But once we step onto the ground, we forget all that. Whether it’s fielding, bowling, or batting, we focus only on the next ball.”
One reporter suggested Saim had “lost his intent”, a charge he rejected outright. “Sir, how can you be so confident that I’ve forgotten my intent?” he said with a hint of defiance. “The results haven’t come in the last few matches, but I’m still playing with the same mindset. Without intent, there is no international cricket. If you don’t try to dominate the opposition, you’re finished.”
Saim also dismissed the idea that his bowling improvement had somehow affected his batting rhythm.
“What’s the relation between batting and overs?” he replied, smiling again. “There are phases in every player’s career. If I’m not batting well, it’s my fault and I’m trying to fix it. That’s all I can do.”
As Pakistan prepare for the remaining two T20Is, Saim’s words summed up the mood in the camp, a mix of accountability, resilience and quiet belief. “The first match is over,” he said. “We’ll come back stronger.”
Both sides reached Lahore today, where they will undergo training session on Thursday, 30 October, before featuring in the second and third T20Is of the series on 31 October and 1 November, respectively.
