Saim Ayub credits PSL, coaches for bowling strides

Pakistan's Saim Ayub, currently the world's number one T20 all-rounder, shared his journey from an opener to an all-rounder during the Bangladesh Premier League.

Two years ago we discussed your journey as an opener. Today, we are interviewing an all-rounder. How has this two-year journey been?

The journey has been very good, and it feels like those two or three years passed in just two days. Overall, the journey is good and I keep enjoying it.

The transformation you made, from an opener to an all-rounder, how was that journey?

I used to do a little bit of bowling in club cricket, but since the PSL happened, Peshawar helped me a lot. When I came into the Pakistan team, they showed belief in me and did a lot of technical and tactical work. I was not expecting to see such good bowling figures. The credit goes to the coaches who worked so much, and I also put in full effort to help the team.

You have almost made power play bowling your own. What is your mindset while bowling in the power play?

In the Pakistan team we decide our plan and the area where we have to bowl. We practice the required technical work and mindset in net sessions. In the match, those things happen automatically by reading the batsman. The intent is not to be scared bowling against any batsman and to put him under pressure.

You use both skill sets in the same way, how did you develop this? Off-spin everyone bowls, but how did you adopt leg-spin?

During the COVID period in 2020, I tried leg-spin. I saw a new trend had started, especially finger spin, which Mujeeb brought in, so I said let's try it. I started enjoying it in the net sessions. Whenever I was free, I started doing it. Over time, muscle memory developed.

And when right-handers come in does that muscle memory work for you?

Yes, absolutely, muscle memory works. But all the work has to be done in practice—whether it's bowling, action, or which area to bowl in. You do it in practice and then in the match, try to be fearless.

You have a series against Sri Lanka coming up, and after that the World Cup. How is this BPL serving as preparation for you?

BPL is very good preparation because the conditions are not the same in every match. In Sylhet, you get different kinds of pitches. Sometimes the score is 190, sometimes 130. The best thing is that you get to play in difficult conditions here. That helps to play under pressure and adapt. So it's always good preparation.

Is there one shot in the playbook that makes you feel that this is your day if executed perfectly?

I don't think about any shot that if this shot works, I will feel relaxed. I try to play all shots. If the ball is on off-stump, you have all the shots there—cut shot, drive, over mid-off, third man. If it's on leg-stump, everything is available. I keep all shots open in my mind. There is no one specific shot that makes me feel comfortable.

But doesn't playing one good shot make you feel that today is your day?

No, because if you play one good shot and then make a mistake on the next ball, you'll get out. Avoiding that mistake and maintaining focus—if that stays intact, then you can make the day yours.

Mike Hesson wants you to take on a very aggressive approach. How do you feel about adapting to that?

As a team, our mindset is exactly this—we don't want to lose any match and we think about how we can win and dominate. Even recently in the tri-series in Pakistan, we had already qualified for the final, but we took that match seriously. We focus on how we can completely dominate the opposition and not give them a chance to make a comeback. This is our approach in every match.

How is your preparation for the T20 World Cup?

There isn't much time yet to think about the T20 World Cup. When we go to play it, then we will think about it. Right now, it's BPL, and after that the Sri Lanka series.

Would you mention one coach who has worked a lot with you on your bowling?

The bowling coach we currently have in the Pakistan team has worked a lot on our bowling and has helped me a great deal. He's Australian. He's a really good coach, and I've received a lot of help because of his bowling input.