The Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has ruled out the participation of young opener Saim Ayub in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament following an ankle injury. Saim is undergoing treatment in London for the ankle fracture he sustained during the second Test against South Africa earlier this month in Cape Town.
Naqvi spoke to the media and asserted that no risks would be taken as far as Saim’s long-term health was concerned. “I am in touch with his doctors on a daily basis, and his ankle plaster will come off in the next few days,” he said.
However, he added that full recovery will take time, and the PCB is committed to ensuring Saim is fit before returning to the field. “He is our asset, and we want him fully fit, whatever the time it takes. I am personally keeping a close tab on his progress.”
The uncertainty over Saim’s availability has led the Pakistani selectors to delay naming their squad for the Champions Trophy to be staged in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19.
Saim Ayub was included in the ICC’s ODI Team of the Year recently and was in sizzling form during the South Africa series, scoring two centuries before his unfortunate injury near the boundary line. He was initially ruled out for six weeks but has since been referred to specialist sports injury orthopaedic surgeons who are overseeing his rehabilitation.
With Saim ruled out, discarded opener Fakhar Zaman, who incidentally made a century in the final against India in the last Champions Trophy in 2017, is likely to come in. Shan Masood and Imam ul Haq are also in contention for a place ahead of Abdullah Shafique.
