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South Africa have suffered a major setback ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as experienced speedster Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the 50-over tournament due to a back injury. Nortje has not played any international cricket since the T20 World Cup 2024 final in June last year, and his comeback plans have been hit by the unfortunate setbacks.
Anrich Nortje had planned to return to action for South Africa’s recent white-ball series against Pakistan. However, the fast bowler’s hopes were dashed when a crushing yorker from teammate David Miller fractured his toe during a net session.
The fiery paceman, known for his express pace, opted for the 2024/25 Test season with a view to saving his injury-prone body to flourish his franchise and white-ball career with the Proteas team. But this move has not worked for him either.
Big blow for South Africa as Anrich Nortje rules out ICC Champions Trophy 2025
It should be noted that Nortje has not participated in the ongoing SA20 2025 for Pretoria Capitals. The star pacer was last seen in action on December 2 in the Abu Dhabi T10. Despite missing a lot of cricket, Cricket South Africa (CSA) had named Nortje in their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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However, just over 48 hours later, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced that Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 to be held in Pakistan and Dubai (India matches). The CSA said Nortje had undergone scans on Monday (January 13) afternoon and is not expected to recover in time for the 50-over tournament.
Cricket South Africa said in a press release that Nortje “underwent scans which revealed the extent of the injury. He is not expected to recover in time” to play in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, where South- Africa will begin their campaign against Afghanistan in Karachi. on February 21.
Anrich Nortje will miss the ICC ODI tournament for the third time
Anrich Nortje has been forced to miss the ICC ODI tournament through injury for the third time. Despite being one of the fastest and most feared bowlers in the world, the Proteas star is yet to prove his skills in an ICC 50-plus tournament.
He was ruled out of the 2019 World Cup with a thumb injury, and history repeated itself ahead of the 2023 World Cup as a suspected stress fracture in his lower back forced him to miss the 50-over tournament in India. Now, Nortje’s 2025 Champions Trophy dreams have also been dashed due to the back injury.
However, Nortje’s story in the T20 World Cups has been different as the Proteas pacer was able to feature in all three ICC events (2021, 2022 and 2024) and was sensational for the South African team with the ball.
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Gerald Coetzee is likely to replace Nortje in the 2025 Champions Trophy squad
Meanwhile, the CSA said in the press release that Nortje’s replacement would be appointed “in due course”. However, Gerald Coetzee is almost certain to be called up as Nortje’s replacement for the upcoming eight-nation event.
South Africa’s white-ball coach and sole selector, Rob Walter, revealed he had to choose between Nortje and Coetzee, drawing on the senior player’s experience in the hope he would be declared fit in time for in the prestigious tournament.
