South Africa suffered a major blow ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 as fast bowler Anrich Nortje was on Tuesday ruled out of the eight-team event due to a back injury.
The latest injury setback for the 31-year-old was announced by Cricket South Africa (CSA) a day after he was named in his country’s 15-man squad for the tournament in Pakistan next month.
Nortje, at his peak the fastest bowler in international cricket, underwent a scan on Monday, according to a statement by CSA, “which revealed the extent of the injury”. The statement did not specify the exact nature of the injury.
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Anrich Nortje, who has played in 19 Tests, 22 one-day internationals and 42 T20 internationals, has not played any international cricket since the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados back in June last year.
He had been in line to make a comeback against Pakistan last month but suffered a broken toe while batting in the nets.
Nortje was also ruled out of the ongoing SA20 franchise competition in which he was due to play for Pretoria Capitals. CSA said a replacement would be named later.
South African squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.
READ: Champions Trophy 2025: compete list of announced team squads