In a disappointing turn of events for Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, the opener has recorded a new, albeit unenviable, T20 international record. His dismissal for a duck in the third T20I against South Africa on Tuesday was his seventh of 2025, setting a new benchmark for the most ducks by a player within a single calendar year. This tally moves him ahead of Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava, who had six ducks in 2024.
The 2025 season has proven to be a tale of two halves for the left-handed batsman. While he demonstrated his explosive capabilities with a brilliant, unbeaten 71 in the preceding T20I, guiding Pakistan to an easy win, his latest failure in Lahore adds to a pattern of inconsistency. His early dismissal in the third match put Pakistan under immediate pressure as they began their chase of 140.
Ayub’s struggles have been well-documented this year. He endured a particularly difficult Asia Cup campaign, registering three successive ducks. The pattern continued with another duck against Bangladesh. Despite these low points, his match-defining innings against South Africa in the second T20I proved his match-winning potential. This latest duck, however, will raise further questions about his ability to translate potential into consistent performances at the international level.