Injury blow for Pakistan! Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub ruled out of Australia ODIs

Pakistan openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub have been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia due to injuries, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Wednesday. The series is scheduled to begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi, with the remaining two matches set to be played in Lahore on June 2 and June 4.In an official statement, the PCB said both left-handers are currently undergoing rehabilitation under the supervision of the board’s medical panel.“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that both players are currently recovering from injuries and have been advised to continue their rehabilitation programmes under the supervision of the PCB medical panel. Consequently, they have been ruled out of selection for the ODI series,” the statement read.“The PCB wishes both players a speedy recovery and looks forward to seeing them return to competitive cricket at the earliest opportunity. Further updates regarding the squad and player fitness will be shared in due course,” it added. While the board did not disclose specific details about their injuries or recovery timelines, sources indicated that Fakhar is dealing with a knee issue, while Saim has aggravated an ankle injury during the Pakistan Super League (PSL).Fakhar has previously struggled with a chronic knee problem that has forced him to miss matches in the past. Meanwhile, Saim’s ankle concerns date back to January last year, when he fractured his right ankle while fielding during the second Test against South Africa. The youngster only recently returned to international cricket after a lengthy recovery period.Saim also endured a disappointing PSL campaign and was left out of Pakistan’s ODI squad for the Bangladesh series following the T20 World Cup. Fakhar, too, was not selected for that Bangladesh tour, which Pakistan lost 2-1.Both players last featured in ODIs during Pakistan’s home series against Sri Lanka in November 2025. With the duo unavailable, Sahibzada Farhan, who recently toured Bangladesh, is expected to retain his place in the squad, while former captain Babar Azam is also being considered as an opening option for the Australia series.