Mumbai, Feb. 10 -- Former cricketer Ricky Ponting on Monday opened up on star Pakistan batter Saim Ayub's absence from the Champions Trophy 2025 squad and said that the 22-year-old's place will be a "massive gap to fill" for the Men in Green.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday confirmed the omission of opener Saim Aub from the upcoming Champions Trophy 202. The tournament will be played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Saim Ayub has been ruled out of games for the next 10 weeks as he is still recovering from his injury in England, as per the ICC.

While Ayub will miss Pakistan's ICC Champions Trophy defence at home, he has not yet been ruled out of the white-ball tour of New Zealand in March.

Speaking at The ICC Review...