Cape Town, January 3, 2025: Pakistan’s left-handed opener Saim Ayub sustained a right ankle injury during the second Test against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town. The incident occurred in the opening session of the first day when Ayub attempted to field a ball guided by Ryan Rickelton through the slip cordon.
After Aamir Jamal retrieved the ball near the boundary, Ayub ran to relay it but stumbled backward, twisting his ankle in the process. The 22-year-old was visibly in pain and had to leave the field after receiving medical attention.
Ayub has been sent to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stated that updates on his fitness will follow.
This injury is a significant concern for Pakistan, as Ayub has been pivotal across formats. He has been in outstanding form, scoring three centuries and a fifty in ODIs and an unbeaten 98 in T20Is since the white-ball tour of Australia. His performance earned him the Player of the Series award in the South Africa ODIs and a nomination for the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year.
Pakistan faces a packed schedule, including a Test series against the West Indies, a tri-nation ODI series, and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Ayub’s fitness will be crucial as the team prepares for these key events.
