JOHANNESBURG: South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje’s injury woes continued as he was on Thursday ruled out of the remainder of the Twe­n­ty20 International series and three One-day Intern­a­tionals against Pak­istan as they named a strong squad for the fixtures in the 50-over format.

Nortje was sidelined from September 2023 for nine months after suffering a stress fracture, although he recovered to play in the T20 World Cup where South Africa reached the final in June.

He has now suffered a toe injury that will leave him sidelined for the second and third T20 matches and the entire ODI series, which is an important warm-up for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy.

Scans on Wednesday revealed a fracture and Nortje will now consult doctors to determine what treatment is needed, a Cricket South Africa statement said.

Uncapped all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem has been named as replacement for the remaining two T20 fixtures in Pretoria on Friday and at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Having rested several of their regular players for the shortest format series against Pakistan, the big guns are back for the ODI games.

Batters Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs and Aiden Markram make a return along with all-rounder Marco Jansen, seamer Kagiso Rabada and left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.

South Africa have also included 18-year-old firebrand fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who gets a maiden 50-over call-up.

The series begins in Paarl on Tuesday.

ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi and Rassie van der Dussen.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...
Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....