Saim Ayub Out for 7 vs Sri Lanka: Comeback, Form and Latest News
Saim Ayub is trending in Pakistan after he fell for just 7 in the opening match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi on Sunday, 18 October 2026. Left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka had him caught by Janith Liyanage in the fourth over. It was his first ODI since November 2025, and it came a day after captain Shaheen Shah Afridi publicly backed him, so his form and his place in the side are being widely discussed.
Result update: Saim Ayub was caught by Janith Liyanage off Dilshan Madushanka for 7 off 8 balls. Pakistan still won by 37 runs, bowling Sri Lanka out for 268, and Saim took the catch that removed Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis. Full details: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI 2026 scorecard.
PK Portals is an independent information site and is not linked to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the PSL or the player. Details are as reported up to 18 October 2026 and can change.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Saim Ayub |
| Born | 24 May 2002, Karachi (age 24) |
| Role | Left-handed opening batter and right-arm off-spinner |
| Score vs Sri Lanka | 7, caught Janith Liyanage, bowled Dilshan Madushanka (4th over), 18 October 2026 |
| T20I debut | 24 March 2023 vs Afghanistan, Sharjah |
| Test debut | 3 January 2024 vs Australia, Sydney |
| ODI debut | 4 November 2024 vs Australia, Melbourne |
| ODI hundreds | 3 (113*, 109 and 101), all in late 2024 |
| PSL team | Hyderabad Kingsmen (signed for Rs 12.6 crore for PSL 11) |
| Domestic side | Karachi Whites |
| Best ranking | No. 1 T20I all-rounder in the ICC rankings (October 2025) |
Saim Ayub vs Sri Lanka: what happened
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to bowl. Saim opened with Fakhar Zaman, but Madushanka removed him in the fourth over and then also got rid of Fakhar (16 off 19) in the sixth. Babar Azam (45) and debutant Saad Baig (39) steadied the innings, and Salman Ali Agha’s 107 off 90 balls took Pakistan to 305 all out in 49.5 overs. Eshan Malinga took 4-46 for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s chase of 306 was still going on at the time of writing, so the result is not included here. Pakistan play England at Rawalpindi on 20 October, and the top two teams after the six league matches meet in the final in Lahore on 31 October.
Before the opener, Shaheen described Saim as a left-handed batting and bowling all-rounder. He said his off-spin gives the ODI side balance alongside the fast bowlers and that regular chances should help him regain confidence.
Why Saim Ayub had been out of the ODI side
His last ODI before this match was against Sri Lanka in November 2025. Since then he has been away from the 50-over team for two different reasons:
- March 2026: After a difficult T20 World Cup, in which Pakistan went out in the Super 8 stage, he and Babar Azam were not picked for the ODI tour of Bangladesh. Coach Mike Hesson said the selectors wanted to look at younger players.
- May to June 2026: The PCB ruled him and Fakhar Zaman out of the home ODI series against Australia because both were still doing injury rehabilitation with the board’s medical panel.
- October 2026: Named in both the T20I squad for the Sri Lanka series and the ODI squad for the tri-series, announced on 5 October.
Profile: from Karachi to Pakistan’s top order
Saim was born in Karachi on 24 May 2002. He bats left-handed at the top of the order and bowls right-arm off-spin. At home he has played for Sindh and, since 2023, Karachi Whites. He made his PSL debut for Quetta Gladiators in 2021 and has also played in Bangladesh’s BPL and the Caribbean Premier League.
He first played for Pakistan in a T20I against Afghanistan at Sharjah in March 2023. His Test debut came at Sydney in January 2024, and his ODI debut at Melbourne in November 2024. Within weeks of that ODI debut he became one of Pakistan’s most talked-about young batters.
Best ODI innings: three hundreds in six weeks
| Score | Opponent and venue | When | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 113* | Zimbabwe, Bulawayo | November 2024 | Pakistan won by 10 wickets; he was Player of the Series |
| 109 | South Africa, Paarl | December 2024 (1st ODI) | Pakistan won |
| 101 off 94 | South Africa, Wanderers, Johannesburg | 22 December 2024 (3rd ODI) | Pakistan’s first ODI whitewash (3-0) in South Africa; Player of the Series |
In the Johannesburg hundred he shared stands of 114 with Babar Azam and 93 with Mohammad Rizwan, and he also bowled 10 overs for 34 runs and a wicket.
Injuries and comebacks
- January 2025: Fractured his right ankle while fielding in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. The PCB ruled him out of the 2025 Champions Trophy, with about ten weeks of rehabilitation.
- Late 2025: Back in the T20I side, he rose to No. 1 among T20I all-rounders in the ICC rankings on 1 October 2025 after taking eight wickets in seven matches at the Asia Cup. He regained the top spot in December 2025.
- 2026: Played the PSL final in early May, but was then ruled out of the Australia ODIs while still in rehabilitation. He was called up for the third Test in England in September, then played the Asian Games and the home series in October.
PSL: from Peshawar Zalmi to Hyderabad Kingsmen
After Quetta Gladiators in 2021, Saim played for Peshawar Zalmi from 2023 to 2025. For PSL 11 in 2026 he moved to the new Hyderabad Kingsmen franchise for Rs 12.6 crore, the highest price paid for a Pakistani player that season.
He top-scored for Kingsmen with 54 off 50 balls in the PSL 11 final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 3 May 2026, but Peshawar Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, won by five wickets.
Asian Games 2026 final and the celebration row
Saim was also in the news earlier this month. In the Asian Games men’s cricket final against India at Nisshin, Japan, on 3 October 2026, he dismissed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15 off 9 balls) in the third over and celebrated with a cradle-rocking gesture. India made 211/6 and won by 19 runs, so Pakistan took silver. Former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal criticised the celebration on a TV show, saying players should let their performances do the talking.
Related guides
- Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI 2026 scorecard
- Babar Azam passes 16,000 international runs
- Pakistan Tri-Series 2026: schedule, squads and results
- PSL winners list (all seasons)
- More trending topics in Pakistan
- Official updates: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) website
Frequently Asked Questions
How many runs did Saim Ayub score against Sri Lanka in the tri-series opener?
He scored 7 at Rawalpindi on 18 October 2026 and was caught by Janith Liyanage off Dilshan Madushanka in the fourth over.
When and where was Saim Ayub born?
He was born on 24 May 2002 in Karachi, Sindh, which makes him 24 years old.
How many ODI hundreds has Saim Ayub scored?
Three: 113 not out against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo and 109 and 101 against South Africa, all between November and December 2024.
Which PSL team does Saim Ayub play for?
Hyderabad Kingsmen, who signed him for Rs 12.6 crore for PSL 11 in 2026. He had earlier played for Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.
Why did Saim Ayub miss the 2025 Champions Trophy?
He fractured his right ankle while fielding in the Cape Town Test in January 2025, and the PCB ruled him out of the tournament.
Does Saim Ayub bowl?
Yes. He bowls right-arm off-spin and was ranked the No. 1 T20I all-rounder by the ICC in October 2025.
