Lahore, October 26,2026: Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been released from the national squad for the remainder of the ongoing ODI tri-series after requesting a return to domestic cricket to work on his batting form and regain confidence, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Monday.
The PCB said the decision followed a discussion between Saim and head coach Mike Hesson, with the team management and national selection committee agreeing to his request.
“Respecting Saim’s decision and appreciating his honest assessment of his current form, the team management and national selection committee have mutually agreed to accept this request,” the board said in a press release.
Right-handed opener Sahibzada Farhan has been named as Saim’s replacement for the remainder of the tournament.
Saim endured a difficult run in the tri-series, most recently scoring six runs before being dismissed in Pakistan’s dramatic one-wicket victory over England at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
His early dismissal came amid a top-order collapse that left Pakistan struggling before Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 113 and an unbroken last-wicket partnership with Haris Rauf secured the win.
Concerns about Saim’s form had also surfaced ahead of the match, with Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledging the selection options available to the team amid inconsistent performances from the opening batters.
The PCB did not specify how long Saim would play domestic cricket or outline any future selection plans.
The latest change follows the inclusion of left-handed batter Maaz Sadaqat in the squad a day earlier. Maaz was added as cover for players carrying minor niggles after left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem was released from the squad, with the PCB citing the nature of the Lahore pitches. Sufiyan was asked to return to domestic cricket.
Maaz, 21, had initially been left out of the tri-series squad. An occasional left-arm orthodox spinner, he remains part of the squad alongside Farhan for the remainder of the tournament.
Farhan returns to Pakistan’s ODI set-up after being omitted from the original tri-series squad. Earlier this month, he was named captain of Pakistan’s T20I side for the series against Sri Lanka and also led the national team at the Asian Games.
Pakistan have already qualified for the tri-series final after registering three consecutive victories. They will face Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the competition at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, with the final scheduled for October 31 at the same venue.
The tri-series, featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka, is part of the teams’ preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup. Pakistan’s remaining league fixture against Sri Lanka will provide the team an opportunity to assess its options ahead of the final.
