Newly appointed Pakistan captain Shadab Khan, whose first assignment will be against Afghanistan, has showered praises on emerging batter Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique.

The Men in Green will play three T20I on March 24, 26, and 27 at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Talking to the Pakistan Cricket Board, the 24-year-old said that the upcoming T20I series is a good opportunity for the duo, who haven’t represented Pakistan in the format.

“In Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, we reliable batters who can carry the top-order,” he told PCB. “While Abdullah has tasted success in Tests, this is a good opportunity for him to thump his authority in T20Is too.”

“Saim is a brilliant mix of your traditional and modern-day batter as his exquisite strokeplay ensures runs at a faster rate,” he added.

He went on to praise anther uncapped batter Tayyab Tahir, who impressed everyone with his calculating batting in the ongoing Pakistan Super League.

Shadab said that with Pakistan’s top cricketers like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan rested, it would be a good chance from them to prove their mettle.

“With our top-tier rested for this series, these cricketers will be able to feel the heat and pressure of competing an international side and fully shoulder the responsibility, something that will hold them in good stead as their careers progress,” he said.

“You need to be more courageous and need to have nerves of steel to stand out in international cricket and this tour will help them attain that.”