Key points
- Video of Ayub shows him doing fitness drills
- Ayub has completed his rehabilitation in the UK
- He is to undergo a fitness assessment at the NCA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s emerging batting star, Saim Ayub, has been side-lined after suffering an injury that kept him out of the Champions Trophy 2025. With the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 fast approaching, the key question is whether Ayub will be fit in time to play for Peshawar Zalmi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently shared a video of Ayub undergoing intensive fitness drills as part of his recovery process, according to Cricket Pakistan.
Initially, it was expected that he would regain his fitness before the PSL, but a recent report from sports journalist Qadir Khawaja reveals that Ayub has completed his rehabilitation in the UK and returned to Lahore.
His next step will be a fitness assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which will ultimately decide whether he can take part in the tournament. Peshawar Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of Ayub’s fitness test.
Adding firepower
With PSL 2025 set to kick off on April 11, the franchise needs confirmation on whether their explosive opener will be ready to take the field.
Ayub was a vital performer for Zalmi last season, scoring 345 runs at an impressive strike rate of over 157. His presence at the top of the order adds much-needed firepower to the team, making his fitness a matter of great concern.
Should Ayub not fully recover in time, Zalmi has signed English cricketer Mitchell Owen as a backup option for the opening slot. However, the team would undoubtedly prefer to have Ayub, given his recent form and aggressive batting style, according to myKhel.
The good news for Pakistan cricket fans is that Ayub is on track to regain full fitness, and if he clears the NCA tests, he is expected to feature not only in PSL 2025 but also across all three formats for Pakistan in the near future.
