Ayub needed to be stretchered off the pitch in simply the seventh over of the match, when Ryan Rickelton edged a supply via the slips, sending Ayub off on a chase to deep third alongside Aamer Jamal. Jamal pulled it again in as Ayub stood poised to be the relay fielder, however misplaced his steadiness and twisted his ankle. He went down instantly and appeared in anguish holding the decrease a part of his leg because the physio rushed on.
Regardless of extended remedy exterior the boundary line, Ayub was unable to place any weight on his proper ankle, and gave the impression to be in tears as he was positioned on to a stretcher and brought off, with the damage casting a pall over proceedings for Pakistan. Issues solely received worse a couple of overs later when his alternative, Abdullah Shafique, put down a easy probability Aiden Markram at cowl. It will not value Pakistan a lot, although, with Markram falling to Khurram Shahzad two overs later.
Ayub was despatched to hospital quickly after the incident, and shortly after the shut of play, the PCB confirmed he would play no additional half within the contest. “Saim underwent X-rays and MRI assessments this afternoon,” the assertion learn. “The stories have been despatched to specialists in London for additional recommendation on the remedy and time away from aggressive cricket.”
He is without doubt one of the few all-format regulars for Pakistan, and was anticipated to be a key determine for the aspect within the upcoming Champions Trophy that Pakistan will host, starting in February. That participation might now be in critical doubt.
“It is a massive blow, the sort of type he is in,” Salman Agha, Ayub’s team-mate, stated on the shut of play. “He would have been an incredible asset on this wicket. I want him properly and hopefully he’ll be higher quickly.”
