Pakistan's young batter Saim Ayub was forced to leave the field on a stretcher after suffering a painful ankle injury on Day 1 of the second Test against South Africa on January 3.
Saim Ayub stretchered off the field after gruesome ankle injury
The incident occurred in the seventh over of the South African innings, after they had elected to bat first. Ayub appeared to twist his right ankle while chasing a ball played by Ryan Rickelton towards the third-man boundary. While Aamer Jamal slid and flicked the ball back in, Ayub slipped and awkwardly twisted his ankle, leaving him grimacing in pain.
He immediately received assistance from his teammates and the team physio on the sidelines. The 22-year-old was then helped to the dressing room, initially using a cart and subsequently a wheelchair.
The incident unfolded when Ayub, while attempting to prevent a ball from reaching the boundary, lost his footing and tripped backward. His full body weight landed on his right ankle, causing it to twist awkwardly. Ayub immediately fell to the ground, clutching his leg in visible pain.
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He immediately called for a physio, and his teammates, including Jamal and Pakistan captain Babar Azam, rushed to his aid. The medical staff promptly attended to him, strapping his right ankle. Due to the severity of the injury, Ayub required assistance from substitutes to move to the cart and be taken off the field.
As of now, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not released an official statement regarding the extent of his injury. However, based on the initial assessment, a quick return to action appears unlikely.
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The 22-year-old had been in exceptional form during the white-ball leg of the tour. He scored 31 and an unbeaten 98 in the T20Is, followed by 109, 25, and 101 in the ODIs. In the first Test, Ayub contributed 14 and 27 runs and also claimed a wicket. He is a key player for Pakistan, especially with the ICC Champions Trophy approaching next month, where he is expected to be the team's primary opener.