Published: Jan 15, 2025, 10:15 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 15, 2025, 10:15 PM (IST)
Saim Ayub, the Pakistani opener, is currently on a recovery from a right ankle injury, but the Pakistan selectors have decided to put him in the provisional team for the Champions trophy next month. Though the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not made the official announcement about the team, it is going to include the majority of top players, including Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
As per a report in PTI, the selectors believe that another player could take the position of Saim in case he is not well enough to participate in the ICC showpiece event. The changes in the preliminary squad can be made until February 13.
On PCB expenditures, Saim is currently in London, and the results of his examination conducted by two renowned orthopaedic sport doctors are still pending. The reason for Saim to stay in London is if the doctors advise, he may complete his therapy and the doctors will be able to closely monitor his progress.
According to the insider, Saim is going to return to High-performance Center here if the doctors share the board this week that he might not be able to recover in Lahore. This decision by the doctors will be based on the findings of the last test.
According to him, the team physio and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood have joined the Pakistani squad in Multan in advance of the opening Test match against West Indies on January 17.
The young southpaw has proven himself to be the most improved reliable ODI batter in recent years, and hence the selectors are hoping he can recover from his injury in time for Champions Trophy. In the three-match one-day series against South Africa, the two centuries by Saim have proved his status as a fluent scorer.
