NEWS
Follow UsPakistan have been dealt a body blow ahead of the Champions Trophy at home next month as opener Saim Ayub is in serious doubt for the mega event after fracturing his right ankle on day one of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
The injury occurred in the seventh over of the Test when Ayub slipped and badly damaged his ankle, after which he had to be stretchered off the field.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have confirmed in a release that the young opener will be ruled out of action for at least six weeks.
“Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been ruled out of competitive cricket for up to six weeks due to a right ankle fracture sustained while fielding on the opening day of the second men’s cricket Test against South Africa at Newlands on Friday,” the PCB said.
“An MRI conducted Friday afternoon confirmed the fracture, which has been immobilised in an Ankle Medical Moon Boot.”
The injury effectively reduces Pakistan to 10 men in the ongoing Cape Town Test - the board have confirmed that the opener will take no further part in the game.
Ayub is in a race against time to be fit for the Champions Trophy, with the mega event starting on February 19, roughly 45 days from now, at the National Stadium in Karachi.
It’s a shame for the 22-year-old, who has had a spectacular start to his ODI career, averaging 64.37 in nine games. Last month, he struck two tons as Pakistan whitewashed South Africa in the three-match ODI series.
