Emerging Pakistani batsman Saim Ayub shattered a 13-year record held by Imran Nazir for the fastest T20I half-century by a Pakistani opening batsman. During a tri-nation series match against the UAE in Sharjah on Friday, Ayub blazed his way to 69 runs off just 38 deliveries, including seven boundaries and four maximums. His fifty came in a mere 25 balls, eclipsing Nazir’s 25-ball fifty against Bangladesh in 2012.
Ayub’s blistering knock is now the second-fastest T20I fifty by a Pakistani opener, just behind Sharjeel Khan’s record of a 24-ball fifty against Sri Lanka in 2013.
Pakistan, batting first after winning the toss at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, amassed 207 runs, setting a challenging target of 208 for the UAE. The hosts could only manage 176/8 in their allotted 20 overs, handing Pakistan a comfortable 31-run triumph, their second successive win in the competition.
Hasan Ali spearheaded the Pakistani bowling attack with three wickets, while Mohammad Nawaz bagged two. Saim Ayub and Salman Mirza also chipped in with a wicket each. Asif Khan’s valiant 77 runs for the UAE proved insufficient to prevent his team’s defeat.
Hasan Nawaz provided valuable support to Ayub with a quickfire 56 off 26 balls, while other Pakistani batsmen struggled to reach double figures. Junaid Siddiqui and Sagheer Khan were the pick of the UAE bowlers, each claiming three wickets, with Haider Ali adding two more to the tally.