LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Wednesday that openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will not be available for the three-match ODI series against Australia, scheduled to begin on 30 May — a statement released shortly before Pakistan lost the second Test to Bangladesh by 78 runs in Sylhet.

Both players are currently recovering from injuries and have been advised to continue their rehabilitation programmes under the supervision of the PCB medical panel.

However, in keeping with a pattern that has frustrated fans and media alike, the board provided no specific details about the nature or severity of either player’s condition — leaving more questions than answers.

The announcement is particularly surprising given that both players were fully available for franchise cricket throughout the Pakistan Super League. Fakhar represented Lahore Qalandars, scoring 401 runs in eight matches, while Saim turned out in all 13 of his side’s matches, contributing 258 runs. The contrast between their PSL availability and their absence from national duty — both before and after the tournament — has not gone unnoticed.

Both players had also missed Pakistan’s ODI tour of Bangladesh in March, which Bangladesh won 2-1.

Fakhar, who was invited to attend the white-ball training camp in Lahore from 15 May, has been dealing with a hamstring injury and, by his own social media admission, hyperthyroidism — a condition that reportedly caused him to lose around 10 kilograms.

Saim, meanwhile, suffered an ankle injury in the first hour of the Cape Town Test in January 2025 and subsequently missed the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He was not included in the 28-player training camp list.

The PCB’s reluctance to share complete and transparent injury updates continues to be a concern. Clear, timely communication about player fitness is not merely good practice — it is essential to prevent misreporting, public confusion and the erosion of trust between cricket’s administrators and its supporters.

Further updates on the squad and player fitness, the board said, will be shared in due course.