Pakistan and Peshawar Zalmi's dashing opener Saim Ayub has spoken about the special bond he shares with former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, highlighting the positive impact he has had on his game.
Saim Ayub made an outstanding return to competitive cricket after an injury with a brilliant 37-ball fifty against Quetta Gladiators. The left hander smashed four sixes and three fours.
Ayub shared insights into his journey and the invaluable support he has received from Babar, both on and off the field.
"I've talked a lot about Babar bhai over the past two years. He treats everyone equally and makes batting partnerships enjoyable. I always plan my approach according to who I'm batting with," said Saim.
The young opener, who suffered an ankle injury during Pakistan's Test series in South Africa earlier this year, described his rehabilitation process as "challenging but enjoyable."
"I didn't take rehab negatively," Ayub said. "The PCB helped me tremendously during this tough phase. Now that I'm back on the field, I'm enjoying cricket even more – I missed everything about it: the ground atmosphere, batting, bowling, and fielding," he added.
The 22-year-old expressed special excitement about his PSL return with Peshawar Zalmi: "I waited a whole year for this opportunity. Playing alongside local and international stars and gelling with the team – it's been an incredible learning experience. The team culture of Zalmi is fantastic; we, as a team, enjoy every moment together."
He reserved high praise for Peshawar Zalmi's batting coach, James Foster: "He's been tremendous. Every conversation with him is a learning opportunity. I believe in gaining knowledge from everyone – coaches or fellow players," he stated in the interview.
The talented left-hander concluded with a message to fans: "I request everyone to keep supporting me with the same love you've always shown."
We did not select our best team against LQ: Saud
Quetta Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel (Left) and Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi during the toss time ahead of PSL 10 match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on April 13, 2025. - PCB
RAWALPINDI: Quetta Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel opened up after his side's heavy defeat in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 clash against Lahore Qalandars at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, Saud candidly admitted to shortcomings in team selection and execution.
"I think we didn't pick the best team, and our strength lies in spin. Credit goes to their batters as wellFakhar at the top, Mitchell in the middle, and Billings at the end. We have a few issues that need to be resolved before the next game," said Saud.
He also spoke about the team's strategy to contain Lahore's bowling spearhead, Shaheen Afridi.
"We know Shaheen is a strike bowler. The plan was to deny him wickets, but we lost early ones, and it's not easy to chase a big target after that. We'll try to reduce our mistakes in the next game. Pindi usually favors batters. The last match was an exception, but today it played like a typical Pindi pitch," he added.
Fast bowling standards high in HBL PSL: Kusal Mendis
Quetta Gladiators' wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis, who is playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the first time, has praised the standard of fast bowling in the league, saying it stands out compared to other T20 competitions.
Speaking at a press conference in Rawalpindi, the Sri Lankan cricketer said, "I have played in the Lanka Premier League and SA20, but this is my first experience in the PSL. The fast bowlers here are of high quality, which makes the league quite competitive."
Mendis further added that the pitches in Pakistan are good for batting and that he has been working on power-hitting in Sri Lanka over the past few years.
"The conditions here suit batting, and I have been improving my power game back home, so it's exciting to perform in such conditions," he said.
Commenting on his batting role, Mendis mentioned that he is comfortable playing at any position. "In domestic cricket, I've batted lower down the order as well. I don't mind batting at any number, depending on the team's requirements," he stated.
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