SRINAGAR: Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub has been released from the squad for the remainder of the ongoing ODI tri-series, with Sahibzada Farhan named as his replacement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.
According to a PCB press release, Ayub spoke to head coach Mike Hesson and expressed a desire to return to domestic cricket to work on his batting and rebuild his confidence.
The left-handed batter has struggled for runs during the tri-series, scoring 7, 8 and 6 in his three innings. His difficulties have also continued in T20 internationals, where he managed 21, 29 and 8 against Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka respectively before the start of the ODI competition.
Pakistan have already secured a place in the tri-series final after winning their first three matches. They are scheduled to face Sri Lanka in the fifth match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, October 27.
The PCB men’s national selection committee has included Farhan in the revised squad in place of Ayub.
Pakistan’s updated ODI tri-series squad: Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Shaheen Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Razaullah, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Ghazi Ghori, Sufyan Moqim and Abrar Ahmed.
