Pakistan’s left-handed opener Saim Ayub has stated that the team is well prepared for the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and will do their best to win the tournament.
Saim, 21, also talked about the difficulty in training due to rain as the team could only do indoor training but the batter is satisfied with the preparations.
“We did not get a chance to go outdoors because of the rain, but it doesn't matter. We are satisfied with our indoor preparation and confident for the tournament,” Saim said while talking to Geo News on Monday.
“Right now the focus is on the Emerging Asia Cup, I’m not thinking about the Senior Asia Cup, I will have to do well in the Emerging Asia Cup, when the time comes for the Senior Asia Cup, then I will think about it.”
The 21-year-old also discussed the match against India on which he said, “A match against India is good at any level. It will help players get exposure and experience on how to play high-pressure matches.”
“I have seen many batters like Brain Lara, Matheww Hayden and Saeed Anwar but I don't follow anyone, I want to be Saim Ayub,” he added.
On the other hand, Left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman Haseebullah said it is very essential for the team to win.
“It is very important for the team to win because if I perform well then I may get a chance to play in the Asia Cup and the World Cup, however, the Emerging Asia Cup is a platform that can bring you into the national team,” he said.
Haseebullah is a fan of former cricketer Saeed Anwar and says that he wants to be like him.
Pakistan Shaheens will leave for Sri Lanka in the wee hours of Tuesday as they are all set to participate in the upcoming ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, scheduled from 13 to 23 July in Colombo.
Squad
Mohammad Haris (captain, wicketkeeper) (Peshawar), Omair Bin Yousuf (vice-captain) (Karachi), Amad Butt (Sialkot), Arshad Iqbal (Swabi), Haseebullah (Quetta), Kamran Ghulam (Peshawar), Mehran Mumtaz (Rawalpindi), Mubasir Khan (Islamabad), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (North Waziristan), Qasim Akram (Lahore), Sahibzada Farhan (Charsadda), Saim Ayub (Karachi), Shahnawaz Dahani (Larkana), Sufiyan Muqeem (AJK) and Tayyab Tahir (Gujrat)
Pakistan’s fixtures in ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup
v Nepal, 14 July
v UAE A, 17 July
v India A, 19 July
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.