Saim Ayub Out for Six Weeks Due to Ankle Fracture
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Cape Town, Jan 4 (NationPress) Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been sidelined from competitive cricket for a period of up to six weeks following a right ankle fracture that occurred during fielding on the first day of the second Test against South Africa at Newlands on Friday.
An MRI scan conducted on Friday afternoon confirmed the fracture, which has been secured in an Ankle Medical Moon Boot. While Saim will not continue in the Test, he is set to stay with the team and return to Pakistan with the squad once the match concludes, as stated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday.
He is expected to miss the upcoming two-Test series at home against the West Indies later this month, as well as the tri-series featuring South Africa and New Zealand in February, ahead of the Champions Trophy that commences across Pakistan and Dubai starting February 19.
Furthermore, Ayub's availability for the prestigious eight-team tournament is uncertain due to this injury. His absence is a considerable setback for Pakistan; he had recently emerged as a breakout star, earning the title of Player of the Series in Pakistan's 3-0 ODI victory over South Africa last month, where he scored two centuries across three matches.
During the match on Friday, Ayub had to be stretchered off after twisting his ankle while fielding a ball in the seventh over of South Africa's innings, after Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bat first.
As it stands, South Africa is leading the series 1-0 and has already secured a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final following an exhilarating two-wicket victory in Centurion.
