CAPE TOWN: South Afri­ca face an anxious wait over the fitness of experienced seamer Dale Steyn after a flare-up of an old shoulder injury ruled him out for the rest of the Indian Premier League season, putting his World Cup prospects in doubt.

Steyn, 35, felt discomfort having played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, just his second game of the competition after he was signed as an injury replacement for Australian seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile.

“Upon assessment and subsequent investigations, a flare-up of his right shoulder was confirmed,” South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement on Thursday.

“With the World Cup around the corner, it is our priority to get him back to full fitness before the squad departs on May 19. He will consult with a shoulder specialist upon his return and a recovery plan will be put in place.”

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2019