The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday that left-handed batsman Saim Ayub’s eligibility for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand would depend on his passing all fitness tests and meeting all medical conditions.

Due to an ankle injury he suffered while fielding on the first day of the team’s New Year’s Test in Cape Town last month, Ayub was recently ruled out of Pakistan’s home tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand as well as the next Champions Trophy.

Ayub’s recuperation from a fractured right ankle is going well, according to a statement from PCB, and he will continue his therapy in England. After thorough MRI scans, X-rays, and medical evaluations, Saim has been declared out for ten weeks starting on January 3rd. It said that his eligibility for the New Zealand trip would depend on passing all medical and fitness exams.

After hitting two hundreds in South Africa and attempting to chase a ball from Ryan Rickelton, Ayub lost his balance and twisted his ankle, resulting in the injury. He was nominated in the ICC’s men’s ODI team of the year for 2024.

After being carted off the field in Cape Town and left to rely on crutches with his wounded ankle in a moon boot, he was immediately transferred to London to begin treatment under orthopedic doctors.

When he is not available, Fakhar Zaman will bat first with either Saud Shakeel or Babar Azam in Pakistan’s tri-series matches before to the Champions Trophy, which takes place from February 19 to March 9. Following this, Pakistan will go to New Zealand for three One-Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals from March 16 to April 5. The Pakistan Super League will then begin on April 8.