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 lengthy 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, with the injury casting a pall over the case for Pakistan. Things only got worse a couple of overs later when his replacement, Abdullah Shafique, bowled a simple chance to Aiden Markram at cover. However, it would not cost Pakistan much as Markram fell to Khurram Shahzad two overs later.

Ayub was sent to hospital soon after the incident and shortly after the conclusion of the game, the PCB confirmed that he would not play further in the competition. “Saim underwent X-rays and MRIs this afternoon,” the statement read. “The reports have been sent to specialists in London for further advice on treatment and time away from competitive cricket.”

He is one of the few regulars in all formats for Pakistan and was expected to be a key figure for the side in the upcoming Champions Trophy, which Pakistan will host, starting in February. That participation can now be seriously doubted.

“It’s a big blow, the kind of form he’s in,” said Salman Agha, Ayub’s teammate, at the end of the game. “He would have been a great asset on this wicket. I wish him the best of luck and hopefully he gets better soon.”