Saim Ayub’s ankle fracture deals a major blow to Pakistan ahead of Test series and Tri-series

Pakistan’s cricket team has suffered a major setback as opening batter Saim Ayub has been ruled out for up to six weeks due to a right ankle fracture. The injury, which occurred on the first morning of the ongoing Test against South Africa in Cape Town, has left the 23-year-old sidelined for crucial upcoming fixtures, including a two-Test series against the West Indies and a tri-series featuring South Africa and New Zealand.

An MRI scan confirmed the fracture, and Ayub has been placed in a medical moon boot to immobilize the injury. Despite his condition, the young batter will remain with the team until the conclusion of the ongoing Test match.

The unfortunate injury took place during the seventh over of the Test match when Ayub was chasing a delivery from Ryan Rickelton. As he and teammate Aamer Jamal raced to prevent the ball from reaching the boundary, Jamal managed to stop it, while Ayub positioned himself as the relay fielder. However, Ayub lost his footing, twisted his right ankle, and immediately fell to the ground in pain.

The team’s physio rushed to his aid, but Ayub was unable to put any weight on his injured ankle. He was stretchered off the field and later seen on crutches, wearing a medical boot. The incident has caused concern within the Pakistan camp, as Ayub’s absence could significantly impact the team’s preparations for upcoming series.

The injury means Ayub will be unavailable for Pakistan’s two-Test series against the West Indies later this month. Additionally, he will miss the tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand in February. The selectors and team management are now hoping for his speedy recovery ahead of the Champions Trophy, scheduled to begin in Karachi in just over six weeks.

Given Ayub’s recent form and importance to the squad, Pakistan will be hoping that the talented opener can return in time for the high-profile tournament. His absence is a significant blow to the team’s top-order stability, especially after his recent performances made him a vital part of Pakistan’s batting lineup across all formats.

Saim Ayub has been in exceptional form recently, particularly in Pakistan’s ODI series against Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. His impressive performances earned him the Player of the Series title during Pakistan’s historic ODI series win in South Africa.

In that series, Ayub scored two centuries in three matches, helping Pakistan secure its first-ever clean sweep in an ODI series in South Africa. His brilliant knock of 109 in the third ODI at Johannesburg was a highlight of the series. Ayub ended the series as Pakistan’s top run-scorer, amassing 235 runs at an average of 78.33 and a strike rate of over 96.

In his nine-match ODI career so far, Ayub has scored 515 runs at an impressive average of 64.37 and a strike rate of 105.53. His tally includes three centuries and one half-century, with a personal best score of 113*.