Former England captain Nasser Hussain has questioned Saim Ayub’s inclusion in Pakistan’s ongoing Test series against England, raising concerns over the batter’s limited recent first-class experience.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Hussain criticized the decision to bring Ayub into demanding English conditions following his stint in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
He questioned whether the Pakistan opener had been given enough preparation to make the transition back to red-ball cricket, particularly while facing the Dukes ball and England’s bowling attack.
“The truth is he shouldn’t be here. He came from the CPL and hasn’t played first-class cricket in some time,” Hussain said.
“I don’t know who thinks it’s the right thing to fly someone over from foreign conditions, and think they’ll be fine in these conditions against a Dukes ball and Ollie Robinson,” he added.
Ayub made an immediate return to Test cricket after last featuring in the format against South Africa in 2025. He was recalled to Pakistan’s Test squad while playing for the Jamaica Kingsmen in the 2026 CPL.
The left-handed batter was among seven players brought into the squad for the third Test in Birmingham after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made several changes following heavy defeats in the opening two matches.
Ayub’s return, however, did not go as planned, as he was dismissed for a duck in both innings of the third Test at Edgbaston. He faced 10 balls before being trapped lbw by Ollie Robinson for zero in the first innings.
In the second innings, Robinson dismissed him with the first ball of Pakistan’s innings, giving Ayub a pair on his return to Test cricket.
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