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LAHORE: Opening batters Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub have been ruled out of Pakistan’s upcoming three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Australia due to injuries, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday.
The loss of the explosive opening duo dealt a severe blow to the hosts ahead of the high-profile series, which is scheduled to get underway on May 30.
“Both players are currently recovering from injuries and have been advised to continue their rehabilitation programmes under the supervision of the PCB medical panel,” the cricket board said in a statement.
“Consequently, they have been ruled out of selection for the ODI series.”
The PCB did not specify the exact nature or severity of the injuries sustained by the cricketers but expressed optimism about their rehabilitation, adding that it looks forward to seeing them “return to competitive cricket at the earliest opportunity.”
Left-handed Fakhar brings invaluable veteran experience to the top order, while the young Ayub has been widely regarded as one of the country’s brightest batting prospects. Their concurrent absences leave selectors facing a significant rebuilding task to anchor the innings against a formidable Australian bowling attack.
Australia’s tour of Pakistan is highly anticipated, with the three-match ODI series serving as a critical testing ground for both nations’ white-ball setups.
The PCB stated that further updates regarding the final squad composition and player fitness assessments will be shared in due course.
