South Africa Hit by Double Injury Blow Ahead of Pakistan White-Ball Series

South Africa has been dealt a major setback ahead of its upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan, with two key players ruled out of the series.

According to reports, star batter David Miller and express pacer Gerald Coetzee will both miss the series due to injuries.

Miller, who was set to captain the Proteas in the three-match T20I series starting October 28 in Rawalpindi, sustained a grade 1 hamstring strain during training earlier this week. The veteran batter will now undergo rehabilitation and miss the entire series.

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Coetzee has been sidelined from both the T20I and ODI series after suffering a pectoral muscle injury while bowling in South Africa’s one-off T20I against Namibia earlier this month. Scans confirmed the severity of the injury, forcing the young quick into an extended recovery period. He will be monitored by Cricket South Africa’s High Performance unit.

The news of Miller and Coetzee’s absence comes after South Africa already lost Kwena Maphaka to injury earlier.

In Miller’s absence, Donovan Ferreira has been appointed stand-in captain for the T20Is, while Matthew Breetzke and uncapped Tony de Zorzi have been added to the squad. Ottneil Baartman replaces Coetzee in the ODI lineup.

The Proteas will face Pakistan in three T20Is (October 28, 31, and November 1) in Rawalpindi and Lahore, followed by a three-match ODI series in Faisalabad (November 4, 6, and 8).

This will be South Africa’s first white-ball series in Pakistan in nearly three years, with the hosts fielding a near full-strength squad led by Shaheen Afridi in ODIs and Salman Ali Agha in T20Is.

Despite the twin injury blows, South Africa will be eager to build momentum and challenge Pakistan on their home turf, a rivalry that promises fireworks once again.

Click here to read article