Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne has expressed strong confidence in Saim Ayub, emphasizing the player’s growth and importance to the team after their dominant eight-wicket win over Multan Sultans in Eliminator 1 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 11).
Speaking in the post-match presentation, Labuschagne said Saim Ayub is no longer an inexperienced player, describing him as someone capable of attacking, defending, and reading the game effectively.
He added that he has encouraged the batter to keep trusting his ability.
“Saim is no longer just a young kid, he’s an experienced player who can attack, defend and read the game,” Labuschagne said. “I told him to keep trusting his ability because it will click.”
The Kingsmen skipper stressed that performance dips in tournaments are often linked to confidence rather than a lack of skill. He pointed to Usman Khan as an example, noting that he struggled for eight matches before producing a match-winning performance.
“In a tournament like this, players don’t lose their ability, they lose confidence,” he said. “If Saim wins us the final, no one will care about the earlier slump. That’s what great teams do.”
Saim Ayub’s campaign in PSL 11 so far reflects inconsistency. The left-hander has had limited impact with the bat, scoring 166 runs in 11 innings at an average of 16.60 with a strike rate of over 119.42, indicating quick scoring but limited impact across matches.
Reflecting on the match, Labuschagne described the win as significant for the franchise and credited preparation and new ideas for the result. He also highlighted the importance of managing expectations following their previous defeat to Islamabad United.
On the field, Kingsmen delivered a strong all-round performance, restricting Multan to 159 in 20 overs before chasing down the 160-run target with ease, losing just two wickets and finishing with 28 balls remaining.
Usman Khan and Maaz Sadaqat led the chase with composed half-centuries, completing a remarkable turnaround for a side that had lost its first four matches of the tournament.
With the victory, Kingsmen advanced to Eliminator 2, where they will face Islamabad United on May 1 at the same venue.
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