Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub ruled out of Pakistan ODI series vs Australia

Pakistan's cricket team will be without its first-choice opening pair for the upcoming One-Day International series against Australia after Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were ruled out due to injury. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Wednesday that both players are undergoing rehabilitation under the supervision of its medical panel and are unavailable for selection.

The three-match series begins on May 30 in Rawalpindi, with subsequent matches scheduled for Lahore on June 2 and June 4. The board did not specify the nature of the injuries or provide a timeline for recovery. However, a source indicated both players are dealing with knee and ankle issues. Zaman has a history of missing matches with a chronic knee problem, while Ayub is said to have aggravated an ankle injury during the recent Pakistan Super League.

This setback compounds recent challenges for Pakistan's top order. Neither batsman featured in Pakistan's last ODI assignment, a 2-1 series loss in Bangladesh. Their most recent ODI appearances were in November 2025 against Sri Lanka at home. Ayub had previously fractured his right ankle while fielding in a Test against South Africa in January of last year,...