The 31-year-old Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the ongoing T20I series of Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024-25 after breaking his left foot toe.
Nortje was initially left out of the opening match after scans revealed a fracture. Nortje will be consulting an orthopaedic specialist to determine his recovery time.
Meanwhile, uncapped seamer Dayyaan Galiem has been added to South Africa’s squad as a replacement for the two remaining matches.
Nortje last played in the Abu Dhabi T10 earlier this month, but has not played an international match since T20 World Cup final in June.
TEAM UPDATE 🗞
Dafabet Warriors fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the remainder of the KFC T20 International (T20I) series against Pakistan and the proceeding three-match One-Day International series due to a left toe injury.
The 31-year-old was initially ruled… pic.twitter.com/zUAarcF6uC
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 12, 2024
He was expected to be part of ODI squad with an eye on next year’s Champions Trophy, but is unlikely to be part of ODI squad to play Pakistan in three matches starting next Tuesday.
Nortje could have plenty of match time to recover before the Champions Trophy squad is selected, with the SA20 starting on January 10. Nortje is signed to Pretoria Capitals for that tournament.
Nortje has been injured in the last 15 months. Nortje spent nine months from September 2023 after suffering a stress fracture. He made his comeback at IPL 2024 before being selected in the T20 World Cup squad. He was south Africa’s highest wicket-taker of the tournament.
He was opted out of CSA contract as he manages his body post injury and has opted out of red-ball cricket for now.
Nortje will be joining the list of South Africa bowlers who currently have niggles. Gerald Coetzee out of January with groin injury while Nandre Burger has been ruled out due to hip issues respectively. Nandre Burger has been ruled out of the summer with a lower back stress fracture and Wiaan Mulder missed the second test agianst Sri Lanka.
The second match of SA-PAK T20Is will be played on December 13 at SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium.
