"Does Saim Ayub play for India?" - Pakistan pacer accuses PCB of bias before Champions Trophy 2025
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Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has taken a brutal dig at the PCB for the treatment of Saim Ayub after he was injured during the tour of South Africa. Ali accused PCB of biasedness and claimed that no other player would be given a similar treatment as Saim Ayub.
Ayub was seen as a key player for Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. However, the opener's injury during the Test series in South Africa disrupted all of Pakistan's plans and they were left struggling to find other options in the opening spot.
Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Haris Rauf breaks silence on his CT participation
Hasan Ali accuses PCB of biasedness in Saim Ayub's treatment
While speaking on a YouTube podcast 'Ultra Edge', Hasan Ali opened up on PCB's treatment of its players. Hasan claimed that Ayub is being given VVIP treatment but argued why he wasn't given the same treatment when he was a regular member of the team.
"Saim Ayub is injured. He is the player of your team. Wasn't I a member of the team in 2020? If another player gets injured, won't he be a member of the team? Does he play from India?" Ali said.
"You're giving VVIP Treatment to Saim Ayub. If someone gets injured in the future, would you give him the same treatment? No, you won't. So, what have you done here?" the right-arm pacer added.
Hasan Ali further blessed Ayub for good health but wondered whether the youngster would get the same treatment if he got injured again in the future.
"May God give him health and fitness, and may he win a lot of matches for Pakistan. But every rise has a fall. If Saim Ayub gets injured again, will they treat him the same? No, they won't," said Hasan.
VVIP Treatment for Ayub but why not the same for other players❓
— CricWick (@CricWick) February 17, 2025
Hasan Ali highlights unequal treatment 🙄 pic.twitter.com/JNGSXDCqwN
How did Saim Ayub get injured?
Saim Ayub suffered an unfortunate injury during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Ryan Rickelton edged a ball through the slips and Ayub ran for a chase to the deep third boundary alongside Aamer Jamal.
Jamal pulled the ball back in and Ayub stood there to be as the relay fielder. However, the youngster lost his balance and twisted his ankle. He went down in immense pain holding the lower part of his leg as the team physio rushed to the spot to attend him.
He had to be stretchered off the ground after prolonged treatment. Later, it was found that he had injured his right ankle. He was later seen in crutches. Saim was further sent for treatment to London alongside assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.
While he was in contention for the Champions Trophy, he was ruled out later after it was found that he needed a few more weeks to be back on the ground. The opener has been one of the high-performing players for Pakistan across formats in the last few months.
Pakistan's schedule for Champions Trophy
Pakistan will begin its Champions Trophy campaign against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. The Men in Green will then face arch-rivals India on February 23 in Dubai.
They will end their group stage with a match against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi. They haven't been in the best form recently as they lost the tri-series final to New Zealand.
