Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been taken out of the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Cape Town because of an ankle injury. On the first day, the left-hander was carried off the field after slipping badly, which caused a serious ankle injury.
The injury happened in the seventh over of the Test when Ayub and Aamer Jamal went to stop a Ryan Rickleton shot that had gone towards third man. Jamal reached the ball first, and Ayub followed as backup. However, while trying to stop himself as he collected the ball, Ayub slipped, fell strangely, and hurt his ankle.
“Saim Ayub has been ruled out of further participation in the second men’s cricket Test against South Africa after twisting his right ankle while fielding,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a release.
“Saim underwent X-rays and MRI tests this afternoon, and the reports have been sent to specialists in London for further advice on the treatment and time away from competitive cricket,” PCB added.
Ayub was having trouble putting weight on his foot, with his ankle fully bandaged. This injury is a big loss for Pakistan, as Ayub is an important player in all formats.
Ayub has been in great form since the white-ball tour of Australia, scoring three centuries and one half-century in ODIs. He was also named Player of the Series in the South Africa ODIs. His absence might affect Pakistan’s plans for upcoming matches, including the tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand in February.
The injury has made it uncertain if Ayub will take part in the Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19. Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan and Imam-ul-Haq can replace him in the squad for the mega event.
Pakistan was able to get South Africa to 72/3, but Ryan Rickelton (176*) and Temba Bavuma (107) added 235 runs for the fourth wicket, putting the hosts in a strong position. South Africa finished day one at 316/4 after 80 overs.
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Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
