WATCH: Saim Ayub’s struggles continue as he bags third straight duck in Asia Cup 2025 during PAK vs UAE clash

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Saim Ayub’s nightmare run in the Asia Cup 2025 showed no signs of ending as he bagged yet another duck. The Pakistan opener fell cheaply against UAE in Dubai, continuing his poor form. This was his third consecutive duck in the tournament as he was dismissed for duck in his previous two games against India and man respectively. Pakistan’s hopes of a flying start once again took an early blow.

On fifth ball of first over, Junaid Siddique came in from over the wicket and bowled a short, wide delivery outside off, tempting Ayub into a risky shot. The left-hander, known for his attacking intent, went fishing at it, looking to smash the ball over the fielder at deep third. Instead of getting on top of the bounce, he slashed hard, but the connection was far from convincing. The ball came off the bat flat and without the elevation required to clear the boundary. It travelled quickly but remained at chest height, giving the fielder a straightforward chance. Muhammad Rohid at deep third tracked the ball early, judged its trajectory, and moved into position with composure. He set himself perfectly under the ball and completed the catch cleanly without any panic.

Saim stood in disbelief, realising he had thrown away yet another opportunity at the top of the order. This dismissal meant his third consecutive duck in the Asia Cup 2025, equalling the joint-second most ducks in T20 internationals. Pakistan, already under pressure chasing runs, lost their opener within the first over, leaving them in early trouble. The lack of runs from Saim has now become a major talking point, with critics questioning his temperament against the new ball. For Junaid Siddique, it was a perfect setup, drawing the batter into a false stroke with smart length and width. The dismissal brought loud cheers from the UAE players, sensing a huge moment in the contest. As Ayub walked back for a two-ball duck, Pakistan’s innings was jolted very early, while Saim’s struggles continued to mount.

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Pakistan’s batting innings never quite clicked in their must-win Asia Cup 2025 clash against the UAE in Dubai. After electing to bowl first, UAE struck early, removing Saim Ayub for his third consecutive duck in the tournament. Siddique delivered a brilliant spell, finishing with 4/18, dismantling Pakistan’s fragile top and middle order. Fakhar Zaman was the lone bright spot, playing a counterattacking 50 off 36 balls with two fours and three sixes. Captain Salman Agha added a scratchy 20 before falling, while the rest of the batting lineup collapsed around them. Pakistan slipped from 70/2 to 93/6 in the space of five overs, exposing their inconsistency once again. A late cameo from Shaheen Afridi (29 off 14 balls) provided some much-needed momentum, lifting the score past 140. Simranjeet Singh supported well with 3/26, keeping the pressure on throughout. Ultimately, Pakistan managed just 146/9 in their 20 overs at a run rate of 7.30. The target is within reach, but much depends on whether UAE’s batting lineup can withstand Pakistan’s potent bowling attack under lights.

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