Pakistan’s explosive opener Saim Ayub limped off the field in the first session of the second Test against South Africa at the Newlands on Friday. In the sixth over of South Africa’s first innings, Ryan Rickelton steered a fuller-length Mohammad Abbas delivery through the slip cordon to the third-wicket region.
Saim ran to be the relay fielder as Aamir Jamal brought the ball back in from the boundary at deep third-man but fell backwards. The 22-year-old was taken off the pitch after receiving medical treatment and appearing in severe pain.
According to reports, Ayub has injured his right ankle and was brought to a neighbouring hospital for further evaluation. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will update the young opener’s fitness. Saim Ayub’s injury is a major concern for Pakistan before they host West Indies for a two-match Test series, a tri-nation ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand, and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Since the white-ball tour of Australia, the left-handed opener has scored three hundreds and one fifties in ODIs and one half-century, an undefeated 98 run knock, in T20Is. He was named South Africa ODI player of the series for his outstanding effort.
