Pakistan opener Saim Ayub travels to London to get treatment for his broken ankle. The PCB, which had earlier said he would stay with the team and fly back to Pakistan at the end of the Newlands Test match, has instead decided to send him to London for specialist treatment immediately. He will be accompanied by Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahood, who is currently with the team in Cape Town.
The PCB has received criticism in the past for the way player injuries have been handled and is looking to draw a line under that chapter. In 2022, Shaheen Afridi, who also suffered an injury on the field, traveled with the team initially before eventually being sent to London, although not before increased criticism of the decision not to proceed with immediate treatment.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the quality of care he believed Ayub would receive, saying he would be treated in “the best hospital in the world”.
“Saim Ayub will be checked up by the sports ortho specialists in England as an immediate appointment has been made by the PCB. All resources will be used for his treatment.”
Ayub had to be stretchered off in just the seventh over of the match when Ryan Rickelton got a delivery through the sails, sending Ayub chasing deep third with Aamer Jamal. Jamal pulled it back in as Ayub stood ready to be the relay player but lost his balance and twisted his ankle. He went down immediately and appeared anxiously holding the lower part of his leg as the physio hurried on.
Despite prolonged treatment outside the boundary line, Ayub was unable to put weight on his right ankle and appeared to be in tears as he was placed on a stretcher and taken off. He was later seen on crutches in the doctor’s boot. The PCB later said he would be banned for six weeks, putting him in a race against time to be fit for the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.
