Former England captain Nasser Hussain has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for bringing Saim Ayub into the Test squad without enough recent first-class cricket, calling the decision a sign of “disrespect and disregard” for the longest format.
Ayub was brought into Pakistan’s squad for the third and final Test against England in Birmingham after scoring a century in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). However, the move failed to produce the desired result. The left-handed opener was dismissed for a duck in both innings, ending the Test with a pair.
Pakistan had already made major changes to its squad after losing the second Test at Lord’s. Seven players were replaced, but the team continued to struggle at Edgbaston and appeared to be heading towards another defeat.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the second day’s play, Hussain questioned the logic behind selecting Ayub for difficult English conditions on the basis of a performance in a different format.
According to Hussain, Ayub had not played first-class cricket for a considerable period and was being asked to open the batting against England with a Dukes ball, one of the most challenging assignments for a Test opener.
“The truth is, he shouldn’t be here,” Hussain said, arguing that Test cricket requires preparation suited to the format and conditions. He added that bringing a player directly from overseas T20 cricket into a Test match in England was a questionable decision.
Hussain also compared the situation with former India opener Virender Sehwag. In 2011, Sehwag was flown into England after missing the first two Tests of the series and made his return at Edgbaston. He also scored a pair in that match.
Hussain pointed out that Sehwag was a far more experienced international player than Ayub, yet even he struggled after being brought into unfamiliar conditions.
The former England captain accepted that Ayub had some responsibility for the shots he played but said the larger question was why the selection decision was made in the first place.
Ayub’s last first-class appearance reportedly came in October 2025. His inclusion in the Test squad after his CPL century had already attracted criticism from former Pakistan players, including Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal.
The controversy has added to the pressure on the PCB, which is facing questions over its selection policies as Pakistan continues to struggle in Test cricket.
For Hussain, the issue is bigger than one player’s failure. He believes Test cricket, particularly opening the batting in England, demands specialist preparation and cannot simply be approached as an extension of T20 form.
Reader Comments 0