Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the remaining ODI series of the Pakistan tour of South Africa.
According to a media release, Maharaj has suffered a left adductor strain during the warm-ups ahead of the first ODI on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Bjorn Fortuin is a replacement for Maharaj for the second and third ODIs against Pakistan.
Maharaj suffered an injury just before the toss for the first game and was replaced by pace-bowling all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo in South Africa’s playing 11.
The Cricket South Africa has further stated that Maharaj will be returning home “for rehabilitation and will be reassessed ahead of the first Test against Pakistan”.
SQUAD UPDATE 🗞️
Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out for the remainder of the One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan after scans revealed a left adductor strain.
He will return home to Durban for rehabilitation and will be reassessed ahead of the first Test against… pic.twitter.com/YTg8XFGchc
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 19, 2024
“Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out for the remainder of the One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan after scans revealed a left adductor strain. He will return home to Durban for rehabilitation and will be reassessed ahead of the first Test against Pakistan.”
“Bjorn Fortuin has been named as his replacement for the final two ODIs,” the official handle of Proteas men captioned their post.
Maharaj’s injury will be added to lengthy list of bowlers for South Africa. The hosts are already without Anrich Nortje (fractured toe), Gerald Coetzee (groin), Lungi Ngidi (hip), Nandre Burger (lower back), and Wiaan Mulder (broken finger).
Maharaj recently has bowled South Africa to a final-day win against Sri Lanka in the second test in Gqeberha, bagging 5 wickets for 76.
South Africa have spin-bowling options with Dane Piedt and Senuran Muthusamy to choose form for the the test series against Pakistan.
Maharaj’s injury ahead of the two home tests which are crucial to their quest in making to the final of the WTC 2023-25 cycle. South Africa are currently in the top of the points table with a percentage of 63.33.
The second match of the South Africa-Pakistan ODIs will begin on December 19 at Newlands Cricket Ground.
