South Africa all-rounder Keshav Maharaj was ruled out for the remainder of the ODI series against Pakistan. (Photo Source: Jio Cinema)
Hosts South Africa suffered a big blow ahead of the second ODI after spin all-rounder Keshav Maharaj got ruled out from the rest of the series against Pakistan due to injury. The left-arm spin sensation suffered the injury during warmups.
Maharaj was seen limping out of the venue just before the toss. As a result, he was sent for scans which revealed that he had a strain in his left adductor. Notably, the ODI series between South Africa and Pakistan recently started on December 17, with the Rainbow Nation suffering a defeat against the visitors, at Boland Park in Paarl.
Keshav Maharaj was set to play in the first ODI itself, however due to the injury, he was replaced by Andile Phehlukwayo. But for the second ODI game, in what will be a like-for-like replacement, Bjorn Fortuin will take his place for the last two ODIs.
The long list of injuries in the bowling department
Speaking of the second ODI, Pakistan chased down the total with three balls to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Furthermore, the upcoming match in Cape Town is a must-win game. Before the start of the series, experienced pacers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi are also going through the injury woes. For the unversed, Nortje fractured his toe while Ngidi sustained a hip injury recently.
Also Read: South Africa vs Pakistan Match Prediction – Who will win today’s 2nd ODI match between SA vs PAK?
Hence, the long list of injuries has made it challenging for the team to pick squads since some of these bowlers were performing consistently for the team as well. Besides, injuries can possibly also pose a challenge for the team management to select a strong squad for the upcoming Test series as well.
Disclaimer: This latest news is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.