Mohsin Naqvi: “Due to the Champions Trophy, we cannot risk Saim Ayub’s career”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has refused to risk opening batsman Saim Ayub’s career simply for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Ayub fractured his ankle during the recent two-Test series against South Africa and was in a race against time to be fit for the tournament.
However, it was determined that the 22-year-old would not make a full recovery in time and was subsequently ruled out.
“Due to the Champions Trophy, we cannot risk Saim Ayub’s career,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
During Pakistan’s tour of Australia, Ayub scored 125 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 82, at an average of 41.66.
He then featured in a three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe and finished with 155 runs, which included a career-best 113 not out, at an average of 77.50.
As for the three-match T20I series that followed, he ended up with 60 runs in two games at an average of 60.
The Karachi native was then involved in Pakistan’s tour of South Africa and began by making 129 runs in two T20Is, which included a career-best knock of 98 not out, at an average of 129.
He continued to dominate in the ODI series, accumulating 235 runs in three games, which included two hundreds, at an average of 78.33.
As for the two-Test series, Ayub scored 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.
Due to his injury, Ayub missed the two-Test series against the West Indies in Multan.
He was also not selected for the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa.
The Champions Trophy will be held from February 19 to March 9.
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
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