Ayub joins an exclusive group of cricketers, including Salman Butt of Pakistan and Kane Williamson of New Zealand, as one of the few to reach three ODI hundreds before turning 23.
In the rain-affected third ODI against South Africa on December 22 in Johannesburg, Saim Ayub, the young opener, scored his third century in just nine games, continuing his explosive ascent in ODI cricket. Pakistan scored 308-9. Pakistan defeated South Africa in a historic bilateral ODI series in their backyard thanks to his 101 off 94 balls.
To reach his half-century in 51 balls, Ayub accelerated his innings with a string of powerful shots, including a memorable six off Marco Jansen. Ayub’s century was brought up in style with a crisp cut shot off Aiden Markram before he was dismissed trying a scoop shot. His century was a masterclass in controlled aggression and elegance.
The 22-year-old’s third ODI century solidifies his status as one of cricket’s rising stars. In his short career, he has amassed three hundreds and one half-century at an average of 64.37.
With this accomplishment, Ayub joins an elite group of cricketers that includes Salman Butt of Pakistan and Kane Williamson of New Zealand as one of the few players to reach three ODI hundreds before turning 23. As the Champions Trophy draws up in February and the forthcoming ODI series against New Zealand in March presents more chances, Ayub is now focused on moving even higher.
Players with the most ODI centuries prior to their 23rd birthday:
Quinton de Kock (South Africa) 8 centuries in 52 matches
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan) 8 centuries in 46 matches
Sachin Tendulkar (India) 8 centuries in 116 matches
Virat Kohli (India) 7 centuries in 69 matches
Babar Azam (Pakistan) 6 centuries in 32 matches
Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan) 5 centuries in 51 matches
Saim Ayub (Pakistan) 3 centuries in 9 matches
As Pakistan gets ready for important forthcoming competitions, Ayub’s sustained form is a huge help. He is already a vital member of Pakistan’s batting lineup due to his reliability and capacity to perform well under pressure.
