The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday confirmed that Pakistani openers Fakhar Zaman and Saeem Ayub have been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia due to injuries. The series is scheduled to begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi, with the remaining two matches to be played on June 2 and June 4 in Lahore.In an official statement, the PCB said that both the left-handers are currently undergoing rehabilitation under the supervision of the board’s medical panel.“Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that both players are currently recovering from injuries and have been advised to continue their rehabilitation program under the supervision of PCB’s medical panel. Consequently, he has been dropped from selection for the ODI series,” the statement read.PCB wishes both the players a speedy recovery and looks forward to returning to competitive cricket as soon as possible.While the board did not reveal any specific details about their injuries or recovery timelines, sources indicated that Fakhar is dealing with a knee problem, while Saeem aggravated an ankle injury during the Pakistan Super League (PSL).Fakhar has previously been battling a chronic knee problem that has forced him to miss matches in the past. Meanwhile, Sime’s ankle problems date back to January last year, when he fractured his right ankle while fielding during the second Test against South Africa. The youngster recently returned to international cricket after a long recovery.Saim also endured a disappointing PSL campaign and was left out of Pakistan’s ODI squad for the Bangladesh series after the T20 World Cup. Fakhar was also not selected for the tour of Bangladesh, which Pakistan lost 2–1.Both the players were last involved in an ODI in November 2025 during Pakistan’s home series against Sri Lanka. With both 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.
