Saim Ayub in action during PSL 2026 (Source: AFP Photos)
Saim Ayub, who had a dramatic turn of events to play in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026, did something on Friday that no player from Pakistan has ever done in the competition’s history.
Coming to bat at No. 3, Ayub slammed eight sixes and six fours in Match 18 of CPL 2026 between St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Jamaica Kingsmen, which took place at Warner Park, Basseterre.
Even though he fell on the next delivery after the three-digit mark, Saim Ayub’s CPL century was enough to grab all the attention, particularly in Pakistan.
Saim Ayub’s CPL Century Scripts History
Ayub became the first player from Pakistan to smash a CPL century in 14 years. There were many in the past from Pakistan, like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, and Azam Khan, among others, who had featured in the CPL, but no one from the country had managed to notch up a century in the competition, which began in 2013.
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Ayub got to a three-digit mark in supreme style, smashing a six off Obed McCoy during the 19th over of St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ innings. More importantly, it was his first T20 century, coming on his 161st match in the format.
During CPL 2023, Ayub made 85 off 53 balls for Guyana Amazon Warriors in their match against Jamaica, then known as the Jamaica Tallawahs. Mohammad Rizwan also made 85 runs, but he took 62 balls to get there in CPL 2025 for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots.
These were the highest individual run scores by a Pakistan player before Saim Ayub’s CPL century on Friday. It was Ayub’s second match in CPL 2026. Previously, he had an off day, making only 1 off 3 balls against St Lucia Kings.
What Happened Between Saim Ayub And PCB?
Earlier, PCB, led by Mohsin Naqvi, denied Saim Ayub a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for CPL 2026. The development happened because Ayub was supposed to play the National Champions Cup 2026, Pakistan’s domestic 50-over competition.
PCB wanted Ayub to take part in the competition to strengthen his position in Pakistan’s squad for the ODI World Cup 2027, which will take place in the latter part of the next year in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Ayub played there and was about to join CPL 2026 later on. CPL began on August 7, while the National Champions Cup 2026 took place between August 11 and August 18.
Once the National Champions Cup 2026 was over, PCB wanted Ayub to manage his workload and hence denied NOC to him. A few days later, in a surprising move, the Mohsin Naqvi-led side took a U-turn on that move, and after that, Saim Ayub’s CPL century followed.
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