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In a tough turn of events, Pakistan’s young opening batter Saim Ayub has found himself on an unwanted list after a string of poor performances in the Asia Cup 2025.
The unwanted club of successive ducks
His recent outing against the UAE saw him register his third consecutive T20I duck of the tournament, a failure that has brought his place in the squad under intense scrutiny. This horror run with the bat marks a significant low point in his career and has provided the opposition with early momentum in each of these crucial matches. Ayub’s run of three consecutive ducks in the Asia Cup has placed him in an exclusive and undesirable club of Pakistan cricketers. His latest dismissal, a 2-ball duck against the UAE, followed a similar fate in his previous matches against Oman and India. This string of failures makes him only the third player from Pakistan to register three or more ducks in a row in T20Is.
Most consecutive ducks in T20Is for Pakistan
The unwanted record for the most consecutive ducks in T20I cricket for Pakistan is an unfortunate list that three players have found themselves on. While many batters experience a dip in form, a string of three or more consecutive ducks is a particularly difficult period to navigate. Here’s a look at the players who have faced this challenge.
- Abdullah Shafique: Between 2020 and 2023, opener Abdullah Shafique holds the top spot on this list with four consecutive ducks. His lean patch began in a T20I against New Zealand in Auckland on December 18, 2020, and continued through a match against Afghanistan in Sharjah on March 26, 2023. This extended period without a run was a challenging phase in his career.
- Mohammad Hafeez: Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez also went through a difficult time with the bat in 2012, registering three consecutive ducks. His streak began on February 25, 2012, in a match against England in Dubai and ended with a third duck against Sri Lanka in Hambantota on June 1, 2012. This period was an uncharacteristic blip for a player known for his consistency.
- Saim Ayub: The most recent addition to this list is young opener Ayub, who recorded three consecutive ducks during the Asia Cup 2025. His streak started with a duck against Oman on September 12, 2025, followed by another against arch-rivals India on September 14. He completed the unwanted trio with a duck against the UAE on September 17.
| Player | Ducks | Team | Opposition | Match Dates |
| Abdullah Shafique | 4 | Pakistan | New Zealand, Afghanistan | 18 Dec 2020 – 26 Mar 2023 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 3 | Pakistan | England, Sri Lanka | 25 Feb 2012 – 1 Jun 2012 |
| Saim Ayub | 3 | Pakistan | Oman, India, UAE | 12 Sep 2025 – 17 Sep 2025 |
Saim Ayub’s stagnant T20I career
Once considered a promising talent and even hailed as the successor to Fakhar Zaman at the top of the order, Ayub’s T20I career has struggled to take off. Before this match, he had played 43 T20I matches, but had only managed to score 816 runs at a strike rate of 136. His career statistics are a cause for concern, as he has only managed to score four fifties in his 43 games, and is yet to deliver a match-winning performance for the Pakistan team. His ongoing failures in the Asia Cup have only added to the questions surrounding his place in the team. With the pressure mounting and his confidence seemingly low, his future in the T20I setup now appears to be in jeopardy.
