Saim Ayub: “I’m now able to put weight on my ankle. The injury is not very serious and surgery is not required”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub has confirmed that he is able to put weight on his ankle after injuring it during the two-Test series against South Africa.
Ayub suffered the injury while fielding during the 2nd Test in Cape Town and was subsequently diagnosed with a fractured ankle.
He was ruled out of action for up to six weeks, putting his participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy in doubt.
With the tournament scheduled to begin on February 19, the 22-year-old provided a positive update on his injury, saying it is “not very serious” and he wouldn’t require any surgery.
“I’m now able to put weight on my ankle. The injury is not very serious and surgery is not required,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ayub has been in stellar form prior to his injury as during Pakistan’s tour of Australia, he made 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
He then travelled to Zimbabwe and began by scoring 155 runs in three ODIs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
In the three T20Is that followed, he amassed 60 runs in two matches at an average of 60.
Ayub continued to remain red-hot in the T20I series against South Africa as he smashed 129 runs in two games, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He then proceeded to accumulate 235 runs in three ODIs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
As for the two-Test series, he finished with 41 runs at an average of 20.50. However, it should be noted that he didn’t bat in the 2nd Test due to his ankle injury.
Ayub wasn’t picked for Pakistan’s two-Test series against the West Indies in Multan, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha
[TS_Poll id=”161″]