South Africa’s cricket team has been dealt a significant setback with pacer Anrich Nortje ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a back injury.
The fast bowler, who also plays for the Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 league, recently sustained the injury and underwent scans to determine its severity. The results confirmed that Nortje will not recover in time for the prestigious 50-over tournament.
This development is a considerable blow for the Proteas, who were counting on Nortje’s experience and skill in their pace attack. South Africa is scheduled to open their Champions Trophy campaign on 21 February against Afghanistan in Karachi, Pakistan.
Nortje’s absence will leave a void in the team’s bowling line-up, with Cricket South Africa (CSA) set to announce his replacement in the coming days.
Nortje’s injury history has been a concern in recent months. He also missed South Africa’s participation in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, held in India, due to a stress fracture in his back.
Known for his raw pace, bounce, and effective variations, Nortje has been a key figure in South Africa’s white-ball cricket. He has taken 36 wickets in 22 ODIs and 53 wickets in 42 T20Is, making him one of the team’s most reliable fast bowlers.
The 31-year-old’s last appearance in an ODI came over 15 months ago, during the second ODI against Australia in Bloemfontein. Despite this, Nortje was included in the Champions Trophy squad, with hopes of his return bolstering the Proteas’ chances in the tournament.
However, the recent scans conducted on Monday confirmed the severity of his injury, prompting CSA to withdraw him officially from the event on Wednesday.
The setback comes as South Africa looks to build on its recent performances. The team had a strong showing in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, where they reached the semi-finals.
For the Champions Trophy, they have retained much of their core squad, with 10 of the 15 players from the World Cup squad named for this tournament. The consistency in selection reflects the team’s confidence in its experienced players, but Nortje’s absence will undoubtedly be felt.
Nortje’s contributions to South African cricket have been significant. His ability to trouble batsmen with his pace and accuracy has made him a critical component of the team’s bowling strategy.
His presence often provides the much-needed balance to South Africa’s attack, especially in the white-ball format. Without him, the team will need to rely on other bowlers to step up and fill the gap.
Cricket South Africa has not yet disclosed who will replace Nortje in the squad, but the decision is expected to come soon. The replacement will need to integrate quickly, as the tournament is fast approaching.
With matches scheduled against top teams, South Africa will need their bowling unit to perform at its best to remain competitive.
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