In a record-breaking performance of the unwanted kind, Pakistan’s Saim Ayub registered his seventh duck of 2025 during the third T20I against South Africa. This latest dismissal means Ayub now holds the record for the most ducks in a single calendar year by a full-member nation player, edging out the previous mark set by Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava in 2024.
The young batsman’s career in 2025 has been a study in contrasts. He possesses the ability to produce match-winning performances, as demonstrated by his electrifying unbeaten 71 off just 38 deliveries in the second T20I against the same opposition, leading Pakistan to a commanding nine-wicket win. However, this flair has been undermined by a worrying lack of consistency, culminating in this latest failure to get off the mark.
Ayub’s struggles with the bat this year have been a recurring narrative. He experienced a particularly barren run during the Asia Cup, accumulating three successive ducks. His dismissal in the third T20I against South Africa, which saw Pakistan lose a wicket with just 8 runs on the board in their chase, only amplifies concerns about his reliability. While his potential remains high, the frequency of his dismissals without scoring is a growing issue.