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Jason Gillespie Compares Saim Ayub With THIS Legendary Pakistani Opener

Aakash Saini

Saim Ayub [Source: @BhttDNSH100/x]Saim Ayub [Source: @BhttDNSH100/x]

Jason Gillespie has heaped a significant praise on Pakistan’s rising star and explosive opening batter Saim Ayub. The former Australian fast bowler, who coached the Pakistan cricket team last year up until he tendered his resignation, hailed Ayub and compared him with a certain Pakistani great from the yesteryears.

The 22-year-old, soon to be 23, is currently in Pakistan and is plying his trade for the Peshawar Zalmi franchise in the ongoing PSL 2025 season. Notably, the season marks his return to competitive cricket after a gap of over three months, ever since he sustained an injury during Pakistan’s Test trip to South Africa earlier this year.

Jason Gillespie praises Saim Ayub

While interacting with a fan on social media, former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie praised Saim Ayub, and compared the youngster with former explosive ‘Men in Green’ opener Saeed Anwar. Gillespie said:

“Saeed Anwar was one of the greatest players. I see some of him in Saim Ayub.”

Saim Ayub made his international debut with a T20I match against Afghanistan in Sharjah back in March 2023 as a 21-year-old. To date, the cricketer has featured in eight Tests, nine ODIs and 27 T20I matches for the Pakistan team. The elegant left-handed batter has accrued 1,377 runs across all international formats, unleashing five half-centuries, and three ODI tons in the process.

Ayub boasts of a staggering batting strike rate of 105.53 in ODIs, and that of nearly 138 in T20Is.

Late last year, Saim Ayub top-scored for the Pakistan team during their historic ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa, hauling 360 runs across all six games.

He will now be seen reprising the role for the Peshawar Zalmi franchise alongside senior opening batter Babar Azam on Saturday, April 19 with a match against Multan Sultans in Rawalpindi.