Pakistan batter Saim Ayub completed his medical evaluations with orthopaedic surgeons in London on Saturday concerning his ankle injury; however, clarity on his participation in next month’s ICC Champions Trophy will take another week. Orthopaedic surgeons Dr David Redfern and Dr Lucky Jeyaseelan conducted the assessments.
According to a source, despite concerns about his recovery timeline, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is eager to have Saim ready for the match against India on February 23 in Dubai.
The source noted that while Saim may not recover in time for Pakistan’s opening game against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, the PCB and selectors are considering having him available for the crucial game against India. Saim was initially advised to rest his ankle for six weeks. Still, the PCB sent him to London for further consultations to ensure he could participate in key tournament matches, especially against India.
Read: Saim Ayub Injured During Test Match Against South Africa
By next week, the PCB expects to receive final reports and recommendations from the specialists regarding Saim’s recovery process. The initial examinations have ruled out the need for invasive or non-invasive surgery. The specialists believe Saim’s recovery can be managed with physiotherapy, medication, and rest, though the exact duration of rehabilitation will be determined next week.
For now, Saim is included in the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy. The selectors have until February 12 to finalize their 15-member squad, allowing some flexibility based on Saim’s condition.
Saim will stay in London until next week to decide whether to continue his rehabilitation at the PCB’s high-performance centre in Lahore or receive care in London.
