Pakistan’s promising opening batter, Saim Ayub, has been officially ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a prolonged recovery from his ankle injury. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Ayub will remain sidelined for at least another five weeks, making it impossible for him to participate in the prestigious tournament, which runs until March 9.
The Saim Ayub injury
The left-handed batter sustained the injury while fielding in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town in early January. He suffered a right ankle fracture in an unfortunate incident when chasing a ball to deep third alongside Aamer Jamal. While attempting to relay the ball, Ayub lost his balance and twisted his ankle severely, leading to an immediate exit from the match on a stretcher. The initial diagnosis suggested a six-week recovery period, but further medical evaluations confirmed that his rehabilitation would take at least ten weeks from the date of the injury.
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The PCB’s latest statement clarified that Ayub is “progressing well” but will continue his rehabilitation in England, where he is undergoing extensive medical supervision. Given his current condition, he will not be available for selection in the Champions Trophy, dealing a blow to Pakistan’s batting lineup ahead of the major tournament.
When will Saim Ayub recover?
With the Champions Trophy no longer in the equation, the next major question surrounding Ayub’s recovery is his availability for Pakistan’s white-ball series in New Zealand. The tour, set to take place between March 16 and April 5, includes five T20Is and three ODIs. While Ayub’s participation remains uncertain, the PCB has stated that his return will depend on meeting all fitness and medical benchmarks before selection.
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