Fans around the world are eagerly waiting for the Champions Trophy 2025, which will kick-start from February 19. The ICC tournament will be co-hosted by Pakistan and Dubai. This will also the mark the ICC event to be hosted in Pakistan since the 1996 ODI World Cup. A total of eight teams will be participating in this 50-over format tournament and every team, apart from Pakistan, have also announced their respective squads. However, a recent report revealed the reason why Pakistan Cricket Board is taking so much time in the squad announcement.

According to a report by Cricket Pakistan, batter Saim Ayub‘s untimed injury is causing the delay for the PCB. Ayub sustained an ankle fracture during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this month. He along with assistant coach Azhar Mahmood went to London for treatment.

The PCB is currently waiting the confirmation on Ayub’s availability before finalising the players for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Earlier on Sunday, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi hinted that opener Saim Ayub might be excluded from Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy, emphasising that the board is committed to prioritising the young batter’s full recovery and avoiding any hasty decisions.

“We cannot put Saim Ayub’s career at risk for the Champions Trophy. The plaster on Saim Ayub’s foot will be removed in a couple of days, as he is undergoing rehabilitation,” Naqvi told reporters on Sunday.

Apart from him, former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif also shared his concerns regarding Pakistan’s opening pair with Ayub still recovering from his injury.

“I am worried about Saim Ayub’s injury, and with Abdullah Shafique also out of form, we are left in a bit of a dilemma,” he said.

The opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand at National Stadium in Karachi.

(With IANS Inputs)

India’s lack of international commitments in the 50-over format in 2024 had a bearing on the ICC men’s ODI Team of the Year with not a single cricketer from the country making it to the list released on Friday. The all-star team announced by the ICC features four players from Sri Lanka, three each from Pakistan and Afghanistan and one from the West Indies. India played only three ODIs — an away series against Sri Lanka –, losing two of them while the third one ended in a tie.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka was named skipper of the ICC team as well for his stupendous batting through the year.

In his 16 ODI appearances in 2024, Asalanka scored 605 Runs at an average of 50.2 Average, including a century and four fifties.

Sri Lanka played 18 ODIs in the year gone by, the highest among all teams, and won 12 of them.

Pakistan picked up seven victories from its nine ODI engagements, while Afghanistan won eight of their 14 one-dayers.

Big-hitting West Indian Sherfane Rutherford, who made his international debut in 2023, was the lone non-Asian in the all star XI for his 425 runs from nine games at an astonishing average of 106.2.

ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year for 2024: Charith Asalanka (C) (Sri Lanka), Saim Ayub (Pakistan), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Kusal Mendis (WK) (Sri Lanka), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Haris Rauf (Pakistan), AM Ghazanfar (Afghanistan).

Pakistan selectors have decided to include opener Saim Ayub, who is recuperating from a right ankle injury, in the provisional squad for the Champions Trophy beginning next month. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not disclosed the squad officially but it contains most of the premier stars such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Nasim Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan. An insider said the selectors included Saim as they feel even if he is not recovered in time to play the ICC showpiece he can be replaced by another player.

Changes to the preliminary squad can be made until February 13.

Saim is presently in London on PCB expenses and final reports of the examination done by two high-profile orthopaedic sports surgeons are awaited.

“The reason for Saim still remaining in London is if the doctors recommend, he can do his rehabilitation with them there and the doctors can also keep a close watch on his progress.

“But if the doctors inform the board this week, on the basis of the final test results, that he can rehabilitate in Lahore, Saim will return to the High Performance Centre here,” the insider said.

He said assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and the team physio, who had gone to London with Saim, have joined the Pakistan team in Multan ahead of the first Test against the West Indies from January 17.

The selectors are hoping the young southpaw can recover from his injury in time for the Champions Trophy because he has proven himself to be the most improved and consistent ODI batter in recent times.

His two hundreds in the three-match one-day series in South Africa showcased Saim’s growing reputation as a fluent and quick scoring opener.

Pakistan batter Saim Ayub on Saturday completed his assessments with orthopaedic surgeons in London for his ankle injury, but it will require a week to know if he can play in the next month’s ICC Champions Trophy. Saim was examined by two noted orthopedic surgeons in London, Dr David Redfern and Dr Lucky Jeyaseelan. A source close to Saim said the Pakistan Cricket Board is very keen on having Saim fit in time for the Champions Trophy game against India on February 23 in Dubai.

“Even if the doctors say he will not have recovered from his injury in time for Pakistan’s opening CT game against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi but he could be fit for the India game, the selectors and PCB are willing to take the risk,” the source said.

He said Saim had been sent to London for consultations with specialists even after he was initially advised a six-week rest for his ankle injury because the PCB is very keen to see him fit for the marquee event and particularly the India match.

The PCB will get final reports and advice from the specialists by next week on Saim’s recovery process and time but after initial examination they have ruled out any invasive or non-invasive surgery to set the ankle right.

“Their findings are that Saim can recover from his injury through physiotherapy, medication and rest but how long a rehab period they suggest will be known next week,” he said.

For the time being, the PCB will include Saim in the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy as the selectors have until February 12 to make changes in it and finalise their 15-member squad.

Saim will remain in London until next week to find out if he can rehab in Lahore at the PCB’s high performance centre or can get better care in London itself. PTI Corr UNG 7/21/2024

The Pakistani selectors have decided to name injured batter Saim Ayub in the provisional squad that will be sent to the International Cricket Council for the Champions Trophy beginning February 19. A source close to the national selectors said that Saim’s form in recent months and his improvement as an opener particularly in 50-overs format has convinced the selectors he should be in the preliminary squad despite his unfortunate injury. “The selectors will keep him in the preliminary squad as the Pakistan Cricket Board has sent Saim to London to get the best medical opinion on his ankle injury in order to know if he can be fit in time for the Champions Trophy,” he said.

Saim who fractured his ankle on the first day of the second Test against South Africa last week, has been advised six weeks for his rehabilitation process and his foot had been placed in a Ankle Medical Moon Boot as part of his rehabilitation process.

“PCB has to submit the final squad for the Champions Trophy without requiring any clearance from the Tournament technical committee by 12th February deadline,” the source said.

He said the selectors feel that even if Saim is not able to get fit in time for the Champions Trophy, he can be replaced by another player.

The selectors plan to recall Fakhar Zaman to the 15-member preliminary squad as an opener with Saim but if the latter is not fit in time he is likely to be replaced by either Abdullah Shafique or Imam ul Haq.

In Fakhar’s absence from recent white ball matches, Saim has been scoring heavily and impressed everyone on the recent tours to Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, scoring 2 hundreds against SA in the ODI series which enabled Pakistan to win 3-0.

Fakhar has not played a 50-over match for Pakistan since the World Cup in late 2023 in India as he has been hit by fitness, injury and other problems.

All-format opener Saim Ayub will be travelling to London from Cape Town to get expert opinion on his ankle injury as the Pakistan Cricket Board is racing against time to get him fit for next month’s Champions Trophy. Saim suffered an ankle injury while fielding during the first day of the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Cape Town and has been ruled out of competitive cricket for six weeks. The PCB said on Sunday that the local doctor monitoring Saim’s injury had spoken to a specialist in London to arrange a consultation for the batter with him.

“We will do everything within our resources to ensure that Saim gets the best possible treatment and he can recover properly under expert care,” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said.

“Saim is an asset for Pakistan cricket and his injury is unfortunate. But we will get him the best possible care and if necessary he will remain in London for his rehabilitation if required,” Naqvi said.

Pakistan is scheduled to play a two-match Test series at home against the West Indies this month followed by the ODI tri-series, also involving South Africa and New Zealand just before the Champions Trophy which begins from February 19.

Saim’s fractured ankle has been put in an Ankle Medical Moon Boot as part of his rehabilitation process.

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