Babar Azam and Saim Ayub - (Source: AFP)
It has been a week since the start of PSL 2026, and the league has already seen enough controversial moments. In the latest events, Hyderabad Kingsmen opener Saim Ayub has hogged the internet for his controversial remarks on Babar Azam.
Saim Ayub and Babar Azam share a special relationship, as the duo played a lot of cricket together during their stint with Peshawar Zalmi. Notably, Ayub represented Zalmi from 2023-25, where the two opened the innings and had a successful stint.
Saim Ayub Makes A Blunt Statement On Babar Azam
The pair of Saim Ayub and Babar Azam broke up when the southpaw shifted to Hyderabad Kingsmen for the ongoing season. In the latest events, a Pakistani reporter banked on nostalgia and asked Ayub about his relationship with Babar Azam and whether he misses playing with the former Pakistan captain.
The reporter assumed Ayub would speak highly of the right-handed batter, but much to his and everyone’s surprise, Saim Ayub made an emotionless statement that didn’t go well with the fans. Here is how the conversation went between the two.
Ayub Makes Does Not Miss Batting With Babar Azam
Q: 2 years ago, Saim, you said your wish was to bat with Babar Azam in 20 overs. Aren’t you missing him?
"This isn’t some kind of relatives thing that a relative left and now you start missing him. As a professional, you have to adjust everywhere. I’m not missing him because he’s in the opponent team now. Apart from him, I’ve opened with many players, if I start missing then I’ll miss everyone, otherwise I won’t miss anyone," remarked Ayub speaking to Cricwick as quoted by Sheri.
Saim Ayub Struggles In Babar Azam's Absence
So far, Ayub has played couple of games after moving away from Peshawar Zalmi and is yet to get going. In the two matches in PSL 2026, the southpaw has amassed just 25 runs. On the other hand, Babar Azam has played just a solitary match and clicked right away.
Babar Azam scored 39 (28) in the first match and there are hopes that the former captain is on course of a comeback. Babar would have been action on Tuesday, but the match between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United was cancelled because of rain.
Saim Ayub Sweats It Hard In The Nets
As mentioned above, Saim Ayub is going through a rough patch in his career. He has managed to list just two half-centuries in his last 28 T20I innings. However, the southpaw is focus and training hard to regain his lost mojo.
At present, Lahore is seeing unpredicted rains which forced Hyderabad Kingsmen to push their training session. However, Marnus Labuschagne shared a video of Saim Ayub training in the rain.
Ayub batted in heavy rains while the rest of the squad members were in the dug-out waiting for the rain to stop.
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