Anrich Nortje, a prominent 31-year-old fast bowler for South Africa, will miss the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy due to a back injury. Initially selected for the Proteas' 15-man squad participating in the 50-over tournament in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, Nortje's absence marks a significant blow to the team. The fast bowler has taken 159 wickets for South Africa across three formats and was instrumental in the side's journey to the T20 World Cup final in June 2024.
Nortje's recent challenges began with a broken toe that sidelined him from the Proteas' white-ball series against Pakistan. He also missed crucial home Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan around the Christmas period. Despite these setbacks, his skill set remained invaluable to the team. However, a scan conducted on Monday confirmed the extent of his back injury, rendering him unable to recover in time for the Champions Trophy.
Cricket South Africa has confirmed Nortje's injury and subsequent unavailability for the tournament. The team will name a replacement soon, as they prepare for their opening match against Afghanistan on February 21 in Karachi. Nortje's last appearance for South Africa was during their loss to India in Bridgetown. Since then, he participated in the Abu Dhabi T10 league in December but has not played for his national team.
Adding to Nortje's series of unfortunate events, he will also miss the remainder of the SA20 franchise tournament, where he was set to play for the Pretoria Capitals. His absence leaves a gap in both the national and franchise teams, emphasizing the impact of his injury on South African cricket.
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