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Pakistan were dealt with a blow as their opening batter Saim Syub sustained an ankle injury during the opening session of day one of second Test at the Newlands in Cape Town on Friday, January 3. Saim Ayub suffered a twisted ankle while trying to stop a boundary in the outfield. In the videos going viral, Ayub clutched at his leg in visible pain before Aamer Jamal and Babar Azam approached him, forcing the medical team to stretch him off the field.
The incident occurred on the second ball of the sixth over from Mohammad Abbas. As the ball relayed, Saim Ayub ran behind, but in the process tripped backwards, leading to his body weight fall entirely on his right ankle, thus leaving him in excruciating pain on the field. However, the medical team quickly attended him and took him off the field, he was facing difficulty in walking and was taken off on a stretcher. But later on, Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed a serious injury to Ayub, forcing him to miss the remainder of second Test in Cape Town.
Saim Ayub ruled out of second Newlands Test against South Africa
"Saim Ayub has been ruled out of further participation in the second men's cricket Test against South Africa after twisting his right ankle while fielding," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a release. The Pakistan board also confirmed that he has been taken for scans, and will soon begin his rehabilitation.
"Saim underwent X-rays and MRI tests this afternoon and the reports have been sent to specialists in London for further advice on the treatment and time away from competitive cricket," the board added.
Speaking of the second Test of the two-match series, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first. After quick wickets, Ryan Rickleton (176 off 232) and skipper Temba Bavuma (106 off 179) stitched a crucial partnership to post 316 runs at the loss of four wickets from 80 overs at stumps on Day 1. For Pakistan, Salman Agha got two wickets, Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad got a wicket each to their names.
