Pakistan’s young opener Saim Ayub has made headlines again in the Asia Cup 2025 — but not for the reasons he would have hoped. The left-hander was dismissed for his fourth duck of the tournament during Pakistan’s Super Four clash against Bangladesh on Wednesday, breaking a record previously held by former captain Shahid Afridi.
With this dismissal, Saim now holds the unwanted distinction of most ducks by a Pakistani in a single Asia Cup. The 22-year-old’s struggles at the crease have also pushed him into the broader T20I record books, where he sits with eight ducks in just 47 matches, placing him second on Pakistan’s all-time list. Only Umar Akmal, with 10, has more.
The record is especially bitter for Saim, who just earlier in the tournament became the 62nd batter in T20I history to record three consecutive ducks. His repeated failures have sparked concern among fans and analysts, many of whom had high expectations of the left-handed stroke-maker after his strong performances in domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League.
For context, Pakistan’s all-time “duck list” in T20Is features some big names. Apart from Umar Akmal at the top, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, and Kamran Akmal each have seven ducks to their name, while Afridi — long considered the most unpredictable batsman Pakistan ever produced — previously held the Asia Cup record Saim has now surpassed.
Saim’s barren run has left Pakistan in a tricky position as the Asia Cup enters its decisive stages. While the team has relied on its bowling attack to carry them through tense encounters, questions are mounting over the batting order’s consistency.
Despite the criticism, team management has so far backed Saim to bounce back. “He’s talented, no doubt. Every player goes through rough patches. We still believe he can come good when it matters most,” a senior PCB official was quoted as saying after the game.
As Pakistan eye a spot in the final, Saim’s form will remain under the spotlight. For now, though, he finds himself in the history books — but not in the way he or his fans would have wanted.
