Pakistan's Woes Continue Ahead Of Champions Trophy! Saim Ayub's Ankle Fracture Confirmed

Pakistan's Woes Continue Ahead Of Champions Trophy! Star Opener's Ankle Fracture Confirmed Photo : AP

In what has come as a major blow to Pakistan's chances of retaining the Champions Trophy , opener Saim Ayub has been ruled out of all cricketing action for the next six weeks after suffering an ankle fracture during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Friday. This comes as a major chink in Pakistan's armour, who will host an ICC tournament after decades.

The diagnosis rules Ayub out of two Tests against the Windies later in January and a tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand at home next month. It means he is in a race against time to be fit for the Champions Trophy, which also starts in Karachi in just over six weeks.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said an MRI scan on Friday 'confirmed the fracture, immobilised in an ankle medical moon boot'. Ayub will although remain with the side until the end of the Test.

The youngster had to be stretchered off the ground in just the seventh over of the match, when Ryan Rickelton edged a ball through the slips, sending him off on a chase to deep third besides Aamer Jamal. The latter pulled it back in as Ayub stood poised to be the relay fielder but lost his balance and twisted his ankle.

The youngster went down and appeared in serious pain holding the lower part of his leg as the physio rushed into the ground. Despite long treatment outside the boundary line, Ayub could not put any weight on his right ankle. Ayub was later seen on crutches in the medical boot.

The youngster could be replaced by discarded opener Imam-ul-Haq for the Tests and Fakhar Zaman for the ODIs. Ayub has had a successful tour of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa and scored three centuries on those tours including two in the 3-0 whitewash over South Africa in the ODI series.

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