South Africa Announces Squad Changes for Pakistan Series Due to Injuries

South Africa is scheduled to engage in a series against Pakistan consisting of three T20Is and three ODIs, spanning from October 28 to November 8.

JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) revealed on Thursday that David Miller, a seasoned middle-order batsman, and Gerald Coetzee, a fast bowler, will be absent from the forthcoming white-ball matches against Pakistan due to injuries.

According to CSA, Miller, initially appointed to captain South Africa in the three T20I matches set to occur from October 28 to November 1 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, suffered a grade 1 right hamstring strain, confirmed by scans conducted on Wednesday.

Concurrently, Coetzee, the 25-year-old pacer, is ruled out from both the ODI and T20I series versus Pakistan due to a pectoral muscle injury sustained during South Africa’s recent T20I match against Namibia.

In a statement, CSA mentioned that the selection panel has verified that stand-in T20I captain David Miller and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee will not participate in the approaching white-ball tour of Pakistan.

Miller, slated to lead the T20I team in the three-match series from October 28 to November 1, is sidelined following confirmation of a grade 1 right hamstring strain during training. He will now commence a rehabilitation program.

Coetzee is excluded from both the T20I and ODI series, scheduled from November 4 to 8, because of a pectoral muscle injury.

The injury occurred while bowling during the T20I against Namibia earlier this month.

Scans revealed the extent of the injury, and following consultation, he has initiated a rehabilitation program under the supervision of the Cricket South Africa medical teams.

As a result of these injuries, Matthew Breetzke and uncapped Tony de Zorzi have been added to South Africa’s T20I squad for the Pakistan series, with Donovan Ferreira assuming captaincy in Miller’s absence.

Ottneil Baartman, who has previously played for South Africa in four ODIs and 12 T20Is, will replace Coetzee in their ODI squad.

CSA’s statement further noted that Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi have been included in the T20I squad, and Donovan Ferreira will captain the team. Ottneil Baartman has been selected as Coetzee’s replacement in the ODI squad.

Updated South Africa Squads for Pakistan White-Ball Series:
  • T20Is: Donovan Ferreira (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Matthew Breetzke, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams.
  • ODIs: Matthew Breetzke (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile.