Kamran Akmal: “Saim Ayub’s injury is a big loss for us”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has admitted that opening batsman Saim Ayub being ruled out of the 2025 Champions Trophy is a “big loss” for the men in green.
Ayub suffered a fractured ankle during the Test series against South Africa and will now miss the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the Champions Trophy.
The 22-year-old had been devastatingly effective as of late as he had been racking up big runs in limited overs cricket.
During Pakistan’s tour of Australia, he scored 125 runs in three ODIs against Australia, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
In the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, he continued to shine as he finished with 155 runs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
He then proceeded to make 60 runs in two T20Is at an average of 60.
After this, Pakistan travelled to South Africa and Ayub amassed 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He followed it up with 235 runs in three ODIs, which included two centuries, at an average of 78.33.
As for the two-Test series, he ended up making 41 runs at an average of 20.50. However, it should be noted that he didn’t bat in the 2nd Test in Cape Town due to the ankle injury he sustained.
Since he is currently recovering, Ayub was not selected for Pakistan’s two-Test series against the West Indies in Multan, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
“Saim Ayub’s injury is a big loss for us,” Akmal was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah