NEWS
Follow UsPakistan opener Saim Ayub, who was ruled out of the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Cape Town due to an ankle injury, is set to be taken directly to London from South Africa to get his ankle treated.
Earlier, the plan revolved around him staying with the team and returning to Pakistan after the Newlands Test. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to be proactive this time, as their injury management practices have been scrutinized on multiple occasions.
Only recently, Shaheen Afridi was made to travel with the team after an on-field injury in 2022 and sent for treatment later. In this case, the lack of immediate action drew criticism from across the board.
To leave no stone unturned in Ayub’s recovery, PCB has also decided to make assistant coach Azhar Mahood travel with him to London to oversee his treatment.
ESPN Cricinfo quoted PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi as saying that, “Saim Ayub will be checked up by the sports ortho specialist doctors in England as an immediate appointment has been made by PCB. All resources will be used for his treatment.”
Earlier, On day one, the 22-year-old had to be stretchered off the field after a nasty slip that saw him injure his ankle severely.
The injury occurred in the seventh over of the Test when Ayub, alongside Aamer Jamal, went to pick up a Ryan Rickleton outside edge that had raced towards third man.
Jamal ran to the ball first, and Ayub went as a backup, but while trying to put the brakes on, as he collected the ball, the 22-year-old slipped, fell awkwardly and injured his ankle.
He grimaced in pain and was attended to by the physios immediately. He was first taken off the field and then had to be stretchered off the ground. Visuals showed Ayub struggling to put any weight on his foot, with his ankle completely strapped.
