South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the rest of the SA20 2025 and upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 with a back injury.
Initially, Anrich Nortje was named in the South Africa squad for Champions Trophy 2025 which was set to begin on 19 February 2025. Notably, the South African pacer has not played any international cricket since the T20 World Cup 2024 final in June last year.
A release said Nortje “underwent scans on Monday afternoon which revealed the extent of the injury. He is not expected to recover in time” to play in the Champions Trophy.
As per the South Africa Champions Trophy 2025 schedule, the Proteas will play the first match against Afghanistan on February 21 at National Stadium, Karachi.
Nortje was last on the field on December 2 in the Abu Dhabi T10 but was included in South Africa’s recent white-ball series against Pakistan. But Anrich Nortje was ruled out of the T20I series against Pakistan after David Miller’s yorker fractured his toe during a net session.
Later Nortje decided to skip the 2024/25 Test season to save his injury-prone body to feature in the Franchise cricket but the plan backfired.
Anrich Nortje who was expected to play for Pretoria Capitals in SA20 2025 season hasn’t played a single game for the franchise. Despite his inconsistency, Cricket South Africa(CSA) has named Nortje in their Champions Trophy squad.
With few days after the squad announcement, CSA revealed that Anrich Nortje will miss the CT 2025 to be held in Pakistan and Dubai (India matches).
PLAYER UPDATE🗞
Proteas Men fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the remainder of the Betway SA20 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due a back injury.
The 31-year-old, who was initially named in the Champions Trophy squad, underwent scans on Monday afternoon which… pic.twitter.com/8td2iujr0K
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) January 16, 2025
Despite being one of the iconic bowlers for South Africa, Anrich Nortje is yet to showcase his skills in a 50-over ICC tournament. Nortje was ruled out of the 2019 World Cup due to a thumb injury while missed out on the 2023 ODI World Cup with a suspected stress fracture.
While he was expected to feature in the Champions Trophy 2025, CSA’s announcement made the fans worry.
Who could replace Anrich Nortje in the Champions Trophy?
The release said Nortje’s replacement would be named “in due course”, but Gerald Coetzee seems set to be called up.
When announcing the squad, South Africa Head Coach Rob Walter said: “Gerald Coetzee played very well in the 2023 World Cup, but it was between him and Anrich Nortje. They offer high pace, both of them. Anrich has more experience and attributes that will stand us in good stead in Pakistan. Gerald has done nothing wrong to not be selected.”
Gerald Coetzee has played 14 ODIs for South Africa and bagged 31 wickets at an economy of 6.48 which includes a couple of four wickets hauls.
