The diagnosis rules him out of Pakistan’s two Test matches against the West Indies later this month, as well as a tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand at home in February. It also means he is in a race against time to be fit for the Champions Trophy, which begins in Karachi in just over six weeks.
The PCB said an MRI performed Friday “confirmed the fracture, which was immobilized in a lunar medical ankle boot.” Ayub will remain with the team until the end of the test.
Ayub had to be run out of the field in the seventh over of the match, when Ryan Rickelton hit a delivery through the slips, sending Ayub into a chase at third alongside Aamer Jamal. Jamal brought it back as Ayub stood ready to be the relay player, but lost his balance and twisted his ankle. He immediately went down and appeared distressed holding his lower leg as the physio rushed over.
Despite prolonged treatment outside the boundary, Ayub was unable to put weight on his right ankle and appeared to be in tears as he was placed on a stretcher and taken away. He was later seen on crutches in the medical boot.
Recent months have seen Ayub establish him as an all-format star for Pakistan, playing a crucial role in ODI series victories in Australia, Zimbabwe as well as here in South Africa, where two hundreds in three matches l were named player of the series.
