By Zainab Shafiq 
Pakistan’s exciting young opening bat Saim Ayub will spend an extra fortnight on the sidelines as he recuperates from a right ankle fracture he suffered in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town last month. The PCB said Saim Ayub will be sidelined for at least another five weeks, which rules him out of the Champions Trophy, and throws serious doubts over his participation in the white-ball series in New Zealand.
Saim Ayub was not named in initial Champions Trophy squad, but hopes were there…
The injury occurred during a fielding effort in the seventh over of the match. Ayub was chasing a ball to the boundary when he twisted his ankle and collapsed in visible pain. He was unable to put weight on his injured leg and was stretchered off the field despite immediate medical attention. The PCB had initially estimated a six-week recovery period, which had given hope for his participation in the Champions Trophy, which Pakistan is hosting. However, Ayub’s absence from the squad announcement last week confirmed his unavailability for the tournament, which concludes on March 9.
Currently, Ayub is undergoing rehabilitation in England and is “progressing well,” but a return to competitive cricket remains uncertain. The PCB has extended his recovery time to 10 weeks, and his involvement in Pakistan’s eight-match tour of New Zealand later this month, comprising five T20Is and three ODIs from March 16 through April 5, remains a big question mark.
Ayub’s injury is a big blow to Pakistan’s batting lineup, especially in the absence of his explosive opening capabilities. His recovery progress will be closely monitored as the team prepares for a busy cricketing calendar, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which kicks off on April 8.
Ayub will be focusing on his rehabilitation. Hence, the pressure of keeping competitive edge in international contests will fall upon those other players in the Champions Trophy and the New Zealand series.
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No Saim Ayub as Pakistan announces 15-member squad for Champions Trophy 2025