Delhi: Before the start of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan has suffered another major setback. Former captain Shahid Afridi said that there should be such players in the team, whose absence does not weaken the team.
Giving an example, the former veteran all-rounder said, “Even if players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan or Shahid Afridi are out of the team, the team should not be affected.”
The bad news for Pakistan is that their young opener Saim Ayyub will not be able to participate in the Champions Trophy. Afridi told that Saim had got injured during the South Africa tour. This injury is serious and it may take about one and a half to two months for him to become fully fit.
Afridi also said that Saim was in good form and his exclusion from the team would prove detrimental for Pakistan. In such a situation, this setback can be challenging for Pakistan before the Champions Trophy.
Remember that Syme had suffered a serious ankle injury while fielding in the second Test match against South Africa. This incident happened in the seventh over, when he fell. He had to leave the field due to injury, and the PCB confirmed that he would be sidelined from cricket for six weeks.
Ayub has played 4 matches in first-class cricket, in which he has scored 202 runs. His performance in List A cricket has been excellent, where he scored an unbeaten 107* in 1 match. In T20 cricket, he has scored 324 runs in 14 matches, in which his highest score has been 62.
It is noteworthy that according to Afridi’s statement, Ayub’s absence due to injury is having a deep impact on the batting of the Pakistan team, because he was in excellent form. According to Afridi, Ayub will not be able to play in the Champions Trophy.
