CENTURION, South Africa — Saim Ayub, the opening batsman for Pakistan across all formats, is set to miss cricket action for a minimum of six weeks due to a fractured ankle, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming Champions Trophy next month.

Ayub sustained the injury to his right ankle while fielding on the very first day of the second and final Test match against South Africa and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher on Friday.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that an MRI scan conducted that afternoon revealed the fracture. Despite the setback, Ayub will remain with the team as they prepare to return to Pakistan next week.

This injury is a significant loss for the Pakistan team, particularly since Ayub has been in outstanding form in white-ball cricket, having scored two centuries in the previous ODI series where Pakistan achieved a clean sweep of South Africa 3-0.

As a result of this injury, doubts now linger over Ayub’s ability to participate in the Champions Trophy, which kicks off on February 19 in Karachi, where Pakistan is scheduled to face New Zealand in the tournament’s opening match.

Salman Ali Agha, a fellow player, remarked on the significance of Ayub’s injury, emphasizing that it hampers Pakistan’s chances of leveling the two-Test series against South Africa. The first Test saw South Africa take the lead, moving them closer to qualifying for the World Test Championship at Lord’s in June.

“It’s a big blow, given the form he’s shown,” Salman stated on Friday, following South Africa’s impressive score of 316-4 after Day 1 of the second test. “He would have been a vital player on this pitch. I wish him a swift recovery.”