New Delhi: South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to a back injury. He has not played any international match since the T20 World Cup played in June last year.
A statement issued by Cricket South Africa said that Nortje was scanned on Monday afternoon and is not expected to recover in time for the 50-over tournament.
Nortje was about to return to international cricket from the Tri-Series in Pakistan
Nortje was about to return to international cricket from the ODI Tri-Series in Pakistan in February. He injured his toe in the nets. Since then, he has not been able to play a single match from Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 League as well. He has also been ruled out of South Africa’s T20 tournament. South Africa will soon release his replacement for the Champions Trophy team.
Gerald Coetzee may get a chance
Gerald Coetzee may get a chance in place of Anrich Nortje for the Champions Trophy. Coetzee has returned after injury in the SA20 League. He suffered a back injury during the Durban Test against Sri Lanka in November last year.
South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter, who is also the team selector, said that Nortje was given preference during team selection due to his more experience than Coetzee.
Nortje has been out for the third time in the last 6 ICC events
This is the third time in the last six ICC events that Nortje has been out due to injury and all of them are ODI tournaments. He was supposed to play in the 2019 World Cup, but broke his thumb before the tournament, then missed the 2023 World Cup due to a lower back fracture and is now out of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Nortje has played all three T20 World Cups. He was available for the team in the 2021, 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups. He has not played ODIs since September 2023 and Test matches since March 2023.