New Delhi: Pakistan are yet to announce their squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. The Men in Green are the official hosts of the multi-nation tournament but remain the only team among all eight participants to have not named their preliminary 15-man squad for the showpiece event. Pakistan are also the defending champions of the tournament having won the last edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017.
Pakistan are reportedly sweating over the fitness of young batter Saim Ayub. Ayub is currently undergoing treatment for an ankle injury in London and was expected to recover in time for the Champions Trophy 2025. However, the opening batter is reportedly all but likely to be ruled out of the tournament and will fail to make the cut in Pakistan’s squad.
Saim Ayub reason behind delay in Pakistan’s squad announcement
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has all but confirmed that Ayub is set to miss the Champions Trophy 2024 for Pakistan as he will not get enough time for full recovery after his ongoing treatment in London. Naqvi revealed the batter’s ankle plaster is expected to be taken off in a few days but the Pakistan team management won’t risk him in the Champions Trophy 2025.
“I am in touch with his doctors on daily basis and his ankle plaster will come off in next few days,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by the PTI.
“But it will take time for his complete recovery and we are not going to risk his future career just for the Champions Trophy. He is our asset and we him fully fit whatever time is required. I am personally monitoring his progress,” he added.
As per a report in PTI, the delay in Pakistan’s squad announcement was due to Saim’s ongoing injury treatment. The Pakistan selectors were waiting to find out if the young opener would be able to recover in time for the multi-nation tournament.
Ayub was in brilliant form for Pakistan in their ODI series against the Proteas in South Africa last year where he smashed two centuries in three matches. He finished the three-match ODI series with 235 runs from 3 matches at an average of over 78. Ayub also finished as the leading run-getter for Pakistan in the T20I series against South Africa with 129 runs from two matches.
The young batter picked up an injury while fielding near the boundary rope during the third and final ODI against South Africa in Johannesburg and travelled to London to undergo treatment on his injured ankle. Discarded opener Fakhar Zaman is expected to replace Ayub in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad.
Pakistan are sweating over the fitness of young batter Saim Ayub and are the only team yet to announce their squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan are also the official hosts of the tournament. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
