Waqar Younis Urges Pakistan to Bench Saim Ayub

Saim Ayub’s struggles in the 2025 Asia Cup with the bat have not gone unnoticed and now Pakistan’s former captain Waqar Younis, has suggested the team might be better off leaving the youngster out of the playing XI.

Despite being one of the country’s brightest young batting prospects, Waqar believes Saim needs a break from the team to rediscover his form.

Speaking on a cricket show, Waqar highlighted that the left-hander’s recent struggles with the bat, including several ducks, are starting to weigh heavily on his confidence.

“I said it after his second duck — this boy needs to be benched for now,” Waqar remarked. “It’s not that Saim lacks talent. In fact, he is extremely gifted and, in my eyes, the future of Pakistan cricket. But when things aren’t going your way, you keep going deeper into your shell, and that’s exactly what’s happening with him.”

Waqar also pointed to the youngster’s body language as a concern.

“When he walked out to bat, he already looked down. That’s a sign he’s under pressure. With players this young, you sometimes need to protect them by giving them a little time away from the spotlight.”

Despite his batting struggles, Saim Ayub has been a revelation in the bowling department for Pakistan, but that does not sit well with Waqar Younis.

“Pakistan should not worry about what he offers with the ball. The question is whether he can deliver with the bat. At the moment, that isn’t happening. He needs to dig deeper, reflect on his game, and find a way to score runs again.”

Saim’s struggles with the bat are evident. In six outings for Pakistan in the Asia Cup, he has scored a grand total of 23 runs—21 of which came in a single innings. His tally also includes four ducks, raising concerns among fans.

Pakistan has already made a significant change in the lineup this tournament, dropping Hasan Nawaz to accommodate Hussain Talat. But a similar move for Saim Ayub may not be on the team management’s mind, regardless of how strongly Waqar Younis feels about it.

With just the final left, Pakistan are unlikely to drop him. However, with questions mounting over his form, he might be “rested” in some upcoming contests if he cannot find a way to make his bat talk.

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