Mr Cricket UAE

How Saim Ayub became latest casualty of PCB’s chaotic experimentation

Share
Saim Ayub

Saim Ayub (Source: Getty Images)

Rupesh Kumar

Rupesh Kumar

Published - 11 Sep 2026, 03:14 PM Read time - 2 mins

Saim Ayub is the latest casualty of the PCB’s affinity for bizarre experimentation across formats. His 6000‑plus km journey from the Caribbean to Birmingham lasted only 11 deliveries, as the 24‑year‑old registered a pair in the ongoing third Test of the series between England and Pakistan.

But Ayub had no business being at Edgbaston in the first place. The southpaw was in prime touch in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), scoring runs for fun for Jamaica Kingsmen. He had just produced a scintillating century, 102 off 58, against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in match No. 18, ripping their attack apart with six fours and eight sixes at a strike rate of 175.86.

Ayub looked set for more such performances, but the PCB’s knee‑jerk reaction to Pakistan’s series loss to England meant he was summoned to cover more than 6000 km and fly for over 10 hours, only to spend a combined 15 minutes at the crease across both innings of the Edgbaston Test.

Accustomed to hitting through the line in the CPL, Ayub attempted an expansive drive in the first innings to a scrambled‑seam delivery from Ollie Robinson. The ball pitched outside off and jagged back sharply into his pads, leaving umpire Chris Gaffaney with little hesitation in sending him on his way.

His troubles deepened in the second innings, where he fell for a golden duck. Robinson came around the wicket and bowled another scrambled‑seam delivery, tempting Ayub to drive on the up. The ball caught the outside half of his bat and went straight into Harry Brook’s hands at second slip, completing Ayub’s pair.

Despite the failure, Ayub cannot be faulted for lasting barely 15 minutes in the middle. The responsibility lies with the PCB, which picked a player who last played a Test in January 2025, had only two first‑class games under his belt in the lead‑up to Edgbaston, and was deeply immersed in T20 cricket, leaving him with virtually no chance of succeeding in the red‑ball format.

Ayub has become the centre of a meme fest across social media, shared at lightning pace, but the joke is squarely on the PCB. Their decisions continue to jeopardise emerging talent by throwing players into situations where failure is almost guaranteed.