Jamaica Kingsmen had everything arranged. A seat was booked for Saim Ayub on a flight out of the UK bound for Barbados, timed for the close of day three at Edgbaston, when the Test between England and Pakistan looked destined to wrap up early. Those plans unravelled thanks to a gritty lower order effort from Razaullah, whose innings dragged the contest into a fourth morning before England eventually completed an eight wicket victory just before lunch.
While cricket fans on both sides enjoyed the drama unfolding at Edgbaston, officials at Kingsmen were likely watching with a knot in their stomach. Sources close to the franchise confirm that the Pakistan Cricket Board had cleared Ayub’s early departure, contingent on a three day finish. He had been thriving in the Caribbean this season before an unexpected Test call up, triggered when Pakistan dropped seven squad members following their loss in the second match of the series.
Ayub had flown into England straight from the Caribbean, where he had struck a hundred only days before. The transition proved difficult, however, as he managed just a pair at the top of the order and failed to claim a single wicket during his stint in whites.
The timing could not be worse for Kingsmen, who face Barbados Tridents in Bridgetown this evening in a contest carrying real stakes. Both sides sit level on eight points, and a win or draw would lock in a playoff berth for the Kingsmen. Ayub, unfortunately, will miss out entirely. The side already tasted defeat once during his absence, falling to Guyana Amazon Warriors last weekend.
There is a silver lining though. With no further international fixtures on Pakistan’s calendar during this window, Ayub is expected to rejoin his franchise and see out the rest of the tournament uninterrupted.
