“I said this guy needs to be benched” - Waqar Younis slams Saim Ayub after his fourth duck in Asia Cup 2025

Former Pakistan pacer and commentator Waqar Younis has come out hard on the Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub, who registered his fourth duck in six innings in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 campaign.

Speaking exclusively on Sony Sports Network, Waqar asserted that he wanted Ayub to be benched right after his second duck of the campaign. However, the team continued to back him, and he went on to register two more ducks in the competition, which didn’t go down well with the former pacer.

"Look, I said it after the second duck, I said this guy needs to be benched. It's not that he is not talented; he is very talented. I think he is the future of Pakistan cricket. But sometimes when things are not going right for you, you just keep going in the shell, keep going down and down, and that's what is happening here with him. His body language was poor this afternoon when he walked onto the field,” said Waqar Younus on Sony Sports Network.

While Saim Ayub started off the campaign with a golden duck against Oman on September 12, he continued his poor form with another golden duck against India on September 14. Interestingly, his poor run continued against the UAE with yet another duck on September 17.

Though he scored 21 runs against India in the Super Four clash, he could score only two runs against Sri Lanka. In the most recent clash against Bangladesh, he suffered his fourth duck.

Nevertheless, Ayub performed exceptionally well with the ball, scalping eight wickets from five games in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 campaign. He played a crucial role against Bangladesh, scalping two wickets after conceding 16 runs in the low-scoring affair.

Pakistan will next take on India in the grand finale of the showpiece event on Sunday, September 28, in Dubai.

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